Prostate Cancer: What’s Your Risk?
An Interview with Dr Nam, about Prostate Cancer.
As a patient what I was impressed with was just, I saw him, I had this test, I had that test, I had a biopsy, and, you know, in as fast a period as possible I knew what the situation was. Monica: Barry was able to benefit from two Sunnybrook innovations: a prostate cancer risk calculator, and the prostate biopsy rapid results clinic. Dr. Nam developed the risk calculator because the current test, the PSA, is not precise enough. The calculator is really a simple checklist you do with your family doctor, plugging in information on factors like your age and ethnicity, if you have a family history of prostate cancer, any urinary symptoms, and your PSA result.
You can learn more about Prostate Cancer and what is it from our previous article here on What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator
Dr. Nam: When you use the Sunnybrook prostate cancer risk calculator, you get the result in seconds. You enter the parameters, and it instantly gives you your risk for having prostate cancer, or aggressive prostate cancer. Then you can use that data to determine whether you need a biopsy or not. Monica: This tool is for men over 50, or younger if there is a family history of prostate cancer.
Dr. Nam: The message to men is to be proactive. Take charge of your screening, and go to your family physician and say, I want to be evaluated for my risk for having prostate cancer or aggressive prostate cancer, which is the key. Monica: This goes hand in hand with Sunnybrook’s new prostate biopsy rapid results clinic, which cuts down the time from biopsy to results from about 3 weeks to just 72 hours.
Dr. Nam says it’s all about revolutionizing the way prostate cancer is detected and treated. Even though he has prostate cancer, Barry says he feels lucky knowing it was found early enough to treat. Barry: I basically told all my friends, go out and spend the $25 and get your PSA test, and talk to your doctor, and look at this new risk calculator and see how many of you should have further investigations.
Some Prostate Cancer Supplements can also help, learn more about this by clicking on this link on Prostate Cancer Supplements.
Monica: You can find the Sunnybrook prostate cancer risk calculator online at Prostaterisk.ca.
With Sunnyview, I’m Monica Matys. On screen text: Visit the blog. Sunnyview.sunnybrook.ca.
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