There are three words that when used by a doctor will stop most people in their tracks and change their lives forever: “You have cancer.” I know, because those words were said to me over three years ago.

In my case, I was told I had prostate cancer. What I didn’t know then was that there are several types of prostate cancer, from slow-growing “indolent” cancers, to fastmoving aggressive cancers.

According to the American Cancer Society, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.

I was lucky that my doctor was monitoring my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) for several years, starting in my early fifties (a man’s PSA can be easily checked by a simple blood test). Had my doctor not been monitoring my PSA, chances are my cancer would have progressed and spread more quickly.

In 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force determined that routine PSA tests in men are not necessary. This leaves men with no easy way to determine whether they should have discussions with their doctors to determine the proper course of action. Obviously, this has left men with fewer tools and more questions about how prostate cancer might affect their lives.

It is obvious that when it comes to prostate cancer, there are many questions as to the proper diagnosis and treatment methods. There are many books and much information on the Internet that can give good but often confusing views about how to best treat the different types of prostate cancer. Having a local source of information and support has been key to my own treatment. Men in Maine are very fortunate to have such a source: The Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer. I urge all men over the age of 50 to take a look at the MCFPC website (www.MCFPC.org) or call us at (855) 552-7200 ext. 800, educate themselves, and have a conversation with their doctors about this very important subject.

Ted Markow,

Board Advisor, MCFPC,

Brunswick