Every Man Needs a Prostate Plan
View the 2 short videos below and talk to your doctor about a baseline risk assessment for common causes of mortality in men.
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View Time: 2 minutes and 8 seconds
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View Time: 6 minutes
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Share these publications with your primary care doctor!
- Michael ZD, Kotamarti S, Arcot R, Morris K, Shah A, Anderson J, Armstrong AJ, Gupta RT, Patierno S, Barrett NJ, George DJ, Preminger GM, Moul JW, Oeffinger KC, Shah K, Polascik TJ; Initial Longitudinal Outcomes of Risk-Stratified Men in Their Forties Screened for Prostate Cancer Following Implementation of a Baseline Prostate-Specific Antigen. World J Mens Health. 2022 Aug 16. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.220068. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36047079.
- Shah A, Polascik TJ, George DJ, Anderson J, Hyslop T, Ellis AM, Armstrong AJ, Ferrandino M, Preminger GM, Gupta RT, Lee WR, Barrett NJ, Ragsdale J, Mills C, Check DK, Aminsharifi A, Schulman A, Sze C, Tsivian E, Tay KJ, Patierno S, Oeffinger KC, Shah K. Implementation and Impact of a Risk-Stratified Prostate Cancer Screening Algorithm as a Clinical Decision Support Tool in a Primary Care Network. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Jan;36(1):92-99. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06124-2. Epub 2020 Sep 1. PMID: 32875501; PMCID: PMC7858708.
- North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control Prostate Cancer Screening Position Statement Prostate Cancer Risk Evaluation and Screening.
- Aminsharifi A, Schulman A, Anderson J, Fish L, Oeffinger K, Shah K, Sze C, Tay KJ, Tsivian E, Polascik TJ. Primary care perspective and implementation of a multidisciplinary, institutional prostate cancer screening algorithm embedded in the electronic health record. Urol Oncol. 2018 Nov;36(11):502.e1-502.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2018.07.016. Epub 2018 Aug 28. PMID: 30170982.
- Patel MP, Schulman A, Shah KP, Anderson JB, Polascik TJ. Engaging the primary care community to encourage appropriate prostate cancer screening. Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2017;10(1):11-16. doi:10.1177/1756287217735799
Please Note: the PSA blood test is not specific to prostate cancer. An elevated PSA can be by age, certain activities, prostate size, infection, inflammation, or BPH. If there isn't a multidisciplinary clinic near you, measuring “PSA density” (total PSA divided by prostate volume measured by MRI or transrectal ultrasound), “PSA velocity” (how much PSA rises between tests over time), and “PSA doubling time” (the amount of time it takes the PSA to double) are helpful tools. Additionally, new tests and biomarkers can help with deciding if and when it's time to see a urologist.
A baseline risk assessment for major causes of mortality in men can help proactively predict cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. Consider a baseline prostate screening at 40, when elevations are less likely to be caused by enlargement or other prostate conditions. Average prostate specific antigen (PSA) increases with age. Men with a higher than average baseline that is not due to certain conditions or activities are at the greatest risk for future development of aggressive prostate cancer. A low PSA number does not mean no cancer is present. While less common, low PSA producing prostate cancers can be very deadly and can only be found by DRE and possibly imaging.
Rapid Access Pathway
Recognizing that timely care can be essential, especially for high-risk men, this redesigned diagnostic pathway focuses on speed, efficiency, and equity. This cross-disciplinary three-step model centers on initial consult, prostate MRI, and biopsy, underpinned by virtual care, centralized scheduling, and evidence-based protocols. Call (984) 974-1315 to learn more.