Prostate cancer can develop without obvious warning signs, making conversations about screening particularly important as men get older, a New Jersey radiologist said during an appearance on The Lorry Young Show on WOND.
Dr. Thomas Reilly, a board-certified radiologist specializing in body imaging with New Jersey Imaging Network, joined Young during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to discuss the disease, screening and advances in medical imaging.
His central message: Men shouldn't wait for symptoms before thinking about prostate health.
“Many prostate cancers, especially the early ones, are completely asymptomatic,” Reilly said.
That's particularly significant because prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among American men.
The American Cancer Society estimates about 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026, with approximately 36,320 deaths. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
“Some of the statistics here are pretty shocking,” Reilly told Young. “One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.”
Symptoms May Not Appear Early
When symptoms do occur, Reilly said they can include difficulty urinating, a weak urinary stream, blood in the urine or semen and pelvic pain.
But those symptoms don't necessarily mean cancer.
“These signs can also be with other diseases of the prostate gland that aren't cancer,” Reilly said.
The more difficult issue, he said, is that a man can have early prostate cancer without experiencing symptoms at all.
Age, family history and race are among the important risk factors.
“Typically over 50 is the age that most organizations will tell you when your risk really becomes higher,” Reilly said.
He also stressed the importance of knowing whether a father, brother or other close family member has had prostate cancer.
Another significant disparity involves Black men.
“There is a 70% higher incidence of prostate cancer in Black men compared to White,” Reilly said.
The American Cancer Society also identifies Black men as being at increased risk for developing the disease.
When Should Men Talk About Screening?
There isn't a single screening recommendation for every man — a point Reilly emphasized repeatedly.
The American Cancer Society recommends that average-risk men discuss prostate cancer screening with their health care provider beginning at age 50.
The conversation should begin at 45 for men at higher risk, including Black men and men with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65. For men with more than one first-degree relative diagnosed at an early age, the American Cancer Society recommends beginning the discussion at 40.
“There is no universally accepted screening recommendation for PSA,” Reilly said. “Different organizations have different recommendations.”
PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by prostate cells that can be measured through a blood test.
A higher PSA can be a warning sign, but it doesn't necessarily mean a patient has cancer.
Reilly explained that prostate inflammation, infection and benign prostatic hyperplasia — a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate — can also raise PSA levels. Conversely, some prostate cancers may be present without a markedly elevated PSA.
That's why Reilly cautions against looking at a single number in isolation.
“You want to look at trends,” he said. “You want to make everything into consideration. Your holistic picture.”
Early Detection Can Make a Major Difference
Reilly said the outlook for prostate cancer varies greatly depending on whether the disease remains confined to the prostate or has spread elsewhere.
“When it's not detected early, when it grows and it's an aggressive cancer and it gets outside of the pelvis and goes to distant organs, or most notably, it goes to bones,” the prognosis changes dramatically, he said.
At the same time, Reilly stressed that not every prostate cancer behaves the same way — and a diagnosis doesn't automatically mean aggressive treatment.
“No two prostate cancers are the same,” he said. “It's identifying the prostate cancers that matter.”
For some lower-risk prostate cancers, doctors may recommend active surveillance rather than immediate treatment. That doesn't mean ignoring the cancer. Reilly said patients may continue undergoing PSA testing, MRI and other monitoring to watch for changes.
Other patients may require surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy or other treatments depending on the characteristics of the cancer and the patient's individual circumstances.
Breaking the Stigma
One obstacle to early detection has little to do with medical technology.
Some men simply don't want to discuss urinary, sexual or prostate health.
“There seems to be an awareness gap,” Reilly said, describing the fear and discomfort some men experience discussing prostate health.
Later in the program, Reilly appealed to spouses, partners and family members who may have men in their lives reluctant to raise those issues with a doctor.
“Let them know that it's okay. Go talk to your doctor about this,” Reilly said. “There's no shame in this.”
A symptom may turn out to be something minor, he said, but it could also be a sign of prostate cancer.
“We're here to provide awareness and help catch these cancers early.”
With September designated Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Reilly said the goal is to get men talking about their individual risk and screening options before symptoms give them a reason to.
For many men, that conversation with their doctor may be the most important first step.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
