September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a great reminder of the importance of early detection and to highlight one of the lesser known, but potentially lifesaving (free), benefits of volunteering with Sterling Rescue.
Every volunteer with SVRS is required to complete an annual, comprehensive physical exam in collaboration with Loudoun County Combined Fire & Rescue System (LC-CFRS). For many, it’s just a routine check-up, but for at least one SVRS volunteer, it may have been lifesaving. In this case, a volunteer’s primary care physician last October showed no concerns. Just two months later, during the county’s physical in December, the volunteer’s PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) had increased by 25%. The PSA increased from below 4.0 (normal) to just above 4.0 in that short timeframe. The rate of change raised a red flag despite the fact there were no symptoms whatsoever. That small but significant jump led to further testing with his personal network of medical doctors, and ultimately a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, behind only skin cancer. While often associated with aging, it can and does affect men as early as their 40s. Like breast cancer in women, it can progress quietly and is far more treatable when caught early, as in this case.
The PSA test is a simple and valuable blood test for potential early detection. A rising PSA, even within a lower range, can be a warning sign, while a high PSA doesn’t always mean cancer. That’s why consistent monitoring and follow-up are essential.
There are several effective treatment options for prostate cancer depending on the stage, grade, age, and individual health factors. In this case, the choice was a prostatectomy to remove the prostate entirely and mitigate any concern about the cancer spreading or returning.
Had the LC-CFRS physical not been in place, the next PSA test might have been a year later and, by then, the cancer could have progressed and spread. Early detection made all the difference. Likewise, by raising awareness and encouraging screenings, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month aims to empower men to take care of their health.
Volunteering is about service but sometimes, it gives back in ways no one expects and can even save a life. To find out more about joining Sterling Rescue, check out https://sterlingrescue.org/join/.
Learn more about prostate cancer at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer.html. Here are some facts from the American Cancer Society:
How common is prostate cancer?
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2025 are:
- About 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer
- About 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer
The number of prostate cancers diagnosed each year declined sharply from 2007 to 2014, coinciding with fewer men being screened because of changes in screening recommendations. Since 2014, however, the incidence rate has increased by 3% per year.
Risk of getting prostate cancer
About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. But each man’s risk of prostate cancer can vary, based on his age, race/ethnicity, and other factors.
For example, prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 67.
Prostate cancer risk is also higher in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races.
To learn more, see Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer.