Did you know Veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who never served in the military?1
In recognition of Veteran’s Day this November, we spoke with Craig, a US Navy Veteran who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009.
At the time of his diagnosis, Craig did not realize that exposure to chemicals can add to prostate cancer risk and severity. Studies have shown Vietnam and Korean War Veterans with exposure to chemical agents have a higher incidence of prostate cancer.1 “Most Veterans I talk to don’t know they are at a higher risk for prostate cancer than the general population and that awareness is critically important,” he said.
Screenings are key to early detection
When caught early, the five-year survival rate for men in the US is more than 99%, but decreases to 32% once cancer has spread to other areas of the body.2 Men with an average risk of prostate cancer should begin screenings at age 50. For Black men and those with familial risk, screening should start at 45. For others with a high risk, including those with more than one first-degree relative (father or brother) who had prostate cancer at an early age, screening may begin as early as age 40.3
Depending on personal risk factors, healthcare providers will recommend different screening methods, including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test via a blood sample or a digital rectal exam.4 They may also recommend genetic or biomarker testing with a liquid or tissue biopsy, which can help your doctor determine the best treatment.5,6
For those who are apprehensive, Craig recommends building a relationship with a provider you feel comfortable with. “There’s nothing weak or unmanly about getting screened for prostate cancer.”
Community can help patients cope
“Knowing there are other people at various points along your journey is vitally important,” Craig said. Following his diagnosis, he found support in the shared experiences of other men recently diagnosed, and those in remission, similar to the comradery he’d felt in the Navy. Through advocacy groups like the Prostate Cancer Foundation and ZERO Cancer, Craig has gotten to know other men with prostate cancer and finds comfort in sharing his experience and knowledge with men navigating their new diagnosis.
Craig looks at life - and prostate cancer - as a dance
This Veteran’s Day and beyond, Craig encourages all men to get screened for prostate cancer, especially those at an increased risk. Craig continues to visit his doctor regularly and is routinely monitored for anything abnormal. He says, “Cancer will always be a part of my life. I often think of life as being a dance, and for me, it’s a dance with cancer. I’ve learned more and become hopefully a better man for having danced with cancer.”
1. ZERO Prostate Cancer. Prostate Cancer Risk Factors. Available at https://zerocancer.org/risk-factors#vets. Accessed November 2023.
2. American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed November 2023.
3. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html. Accessed November 2023.
4. American Cancer Society. Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/tests.html. Accessed November 2023.
5. ZERO Cancer. Biomarkers & Genomic Testing. Available at https://zerocancer.org/stages-and-grades/biomarkers- genomic-testing. Accessed October 2023.
6. National Cancer Institute. BRCA Gene Mutations: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet. Accessed November 2023.