Prostate Screening: It Can Save Your Life
Deadly scourge of prostate cancer is often curable if caught in time
New York Daily News, Sunday, June 21, 2009 - A simple test saved his life-and now, Robert Spina wants every man to know what he knows.
Today, Father’s Day, The Daily News begins its ninth year of free PSA testings to stem the scourge of prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death in men. It’s often curable if caught in time.
Spina, marketing manager and physician liaison at St. Francis Hospital on Long Island, was one of 11,327 men who took The News-sponsored exam last year.
What he heard was not good.
A staff nurse came to Spina’s office in Greenvale, L.I. and told the 60-year old father of three his blood test showed an elevated PSA level.
His level was 6 when anything above 2.5 is considered serious. PSA tests measure the level of prostate specific antigen, a protein, in the blood. The higher the PSA level the greater the risk of prostate cancer.
“I was shocked,” Spina said.
His next step was to get a biopsy, which confirmed the risk.
The hospital exec sat down with his wife and mulled his options. They discussed three possible courses of action-radiation, seed implantation and robotic prostate surgery.
In the end, he chose robot-assisted prostate surgery, the latest development in minimally invasive surgery.
“I wanted to get it over with.” He said.
Fortunately for Spina, on staff at St. Francis is Dr. Felix Badillo, chief of urology and one of the nation’s top surgeons in the field.
Badillo performs more robot-assisted prostatectomies than any other Long Island surgeon, according to the hospital.
Last Nov. 14, Spina underwent a three-hour procedure. He was back at work Dec. 1, refreshed and free of symptoms.
His advice to men over 50 and those with family history of cancer who are over 40: Get the PSA test.
“One thing I would like to get across,” Spina says, “is that if my story causes one man to get his PSA checked and we can detect his prostate cancer in its early stages, then everything I went through will be worthwhile.”
In eight years, 139,000 men have taken the Daily News-sponsored PSA tests. About 93% pass with flying colors. About 7% are instructed to follow up with a visit to their physician or hospital.
Beginning at age 50, men are urged to get annual PSA test. African American men and those with family history of cancer should start testing at age 40.
“It’s easy, it’s simple and it can save your life,” Spina says.
Contact:
Paul Barry, 516-705-6657, paul.barry@chsli.org
Rosemary Gomez, 516-705-6656, rosemary.gomez@chsli.org
