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This year more than 232,000 men, that’s one in six men, will be told they have prostate cancer and at least 30,000 men will die from the disease. But with early detection it can be treated successfully. That’s why The Barron Center for Men’s Health at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, specializes in men’s health exams, specifically for prostate cancer.

Statistics show prostate cancer is just as deadly in men as breast cancer is in women. George Reservitz, M.D., urologist at Mount Auburn Hospital, is the Barron Center’s medical director. “There are no early symptoms for prostate cancer, so I am working to educate men on how serious prostate cancer is. Men should have an annual exam for prostate cancer at age 50, or earlier if they’re African-American or have a family history.”

The Barron Center is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of men. Patients are offered a variety of health exams in addition to prostate cancer, including testicular and bladder cancer. Cancer professionals provide patients diagnostics, referrals, treatment and information. A man may go to the Barron Center if he is experiencing any urinary, impotence or other urological problems, as well as for a second opinion.

A resource center located within the Barron Center supplies patients and their families with a wealth of health information. From medical journals to CD-ROMs, the resource center is another outlet for information and education.

Currently, the Barron Center offers men free exams thanks to the center’s namesake, Mr. Carl Barron. “Mr. Barron has always made a point for us to stress that a man’s financial situation is not a barrier to be seen at the Barron Center,” says Dr. Reservitz. A 15-year prostate cancer survivor, Mr. Barron wanted to help Dr. Reservitz spread his message of prostate cancer awareness and prevention. His generous donation allowed Mount Auburn Hospital and Dr. Reservitz to bring the men’s health clinic to the Boston community.

Dr. Reservitz says a yearly exam for prostate cancer is key to detecting the disease, because prostate cancer, in its early stages, has no symptoms. A prostate cancer exam is usually comprised of two simple tests: a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE).

PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland. An increased level of PSA in the bloodstream has been linked to prostate diseases, including cancer of the prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Seventy-five percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed using the PSA blood test; however, an increased level of PSA is not always a positive indicator of cancer. In some instances, men having a ‘low’ amount of PSA in their bloodstream were found to have prostate cancer. That’s why a digital rectal exam (DRE) is also part of the prostate cancer evaluation. The combination of the two exams are much more effective than having only one or the other.

A DRE provides pertinent information a PSA may not because it allows your doctor to actually feel the prostate. Since the prostate is situated in front of the rectum, it can be felt through the anus. A doctor must insert a gloved finger into the rectum in order to examine the prostate and feel for any changes or abnormalities in the gland. For example, some hardening or lumps may be signs of disease. While the examination may be a little uncomfortable, it’s generally painless and brief.

Dr. Reservitz says if you or a loved one is age 50 or older, a PSA and DRE should be done annually with the general physical examination. If you’re African American or if there is a history of prostate cancer in your family, exams should be done beginning at age 40.

In most cases, early detection leads to positive treatment of prostate cancer. If you’d like to schedule an exam for prostate cancer, testicular and bladder cancer, or if you’re experiencing any abnormal genital or urological symptoms (i.e.: frequent urination, feeling you still need to urinate even after you’ve just urinated) contact the Barron Center for Men’s Health. “We can usually see a patient within a week, if not that day, depending on how immediate symptoms are,” says Dr. Reservitz.

To schedule your free prostate exam, please call us at 617-499-5722.