Routine Screening Crucial for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

Routine Screening Crucial for Early Detection of

PROSTATE CANCER Routine and timely screening testshelp in early diagnosis of prostate cancer and determine the correct treatment modality required for this syndrome.

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Regarded as one of the most common non-skin cancers among men, prostate cancer (PC) occurs when abnormal cells develop in the prostate (a small walnut-shaped gland). According to reports from the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 180,890 new cases of prostate cancer occur each year in the US and nearly 26,000 men die from this disease each year (2016 statistics). It is estimated that more than 2.9 million U.S. men are prostate cancer survivors. Generally, this type of cancer grows slowly and in most cases is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause any serious harm. However, some other types of this cancer are aggressive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer that’s detected early (when it is still confined to the prostate gland) has a better chance of successful treatment.

Medical billing and coding task for prostate cancer is complex, and to meet the complicated documentation needs, most oncology practices now depend on medical coding outsourcing.

What Causes PC? The potential factors that cause prostate cancer are not clear. It generally begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells’ DNA makes the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells that accumulate form a tumor that grows to occupy nearby tissues. On the other hand, some abnormal cells can also break off andspread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Generally, this type of cancer may cause no specific signs and symptoms in its early stages. However, when the disease becomes more advanced, certain signs and symptoms such as the following may appear.      

Pain in the back, hip or pelvis Erectile dysfunction Pain or burning sensation when urinating Blood in urine Bone pain Frequent urination

There are several risk factors that increase the chances of this condition which include – age, family history and obesity.

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Diagnosis and Screening of Prostate Cancer Generally, this type of cancer is more common among older men aged 65 years or above and it is very rare in men younger than 40 years. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66 years. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men should undergo cancer screening tests at an early age (right from their early 50s or sooner).Regular screening helps to recognize the disease symptoms and ensure early treatment.

There is no single, definitive diagnosis test to identify this condition. Urology specialists recommend different screening tests such asprostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, digital rectal exam (DRE), cystoscopy or bladder scope test to confirm this malignancy. If a DRE or PSA test detects any specific abnormality, urologists may recommend further tests such asultrasound, collecting a sample of prostate tissue, and MRI fusion to determine whether the patient suffers from cancer related to the prostate gland.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued new guidelines that recommendmen aged 55-69 years todiscuss with their physician and make an individualized decision whether to undergo prostate cancer screening tests. However, men above 70 years who don’t exhibit symptoms can still skip the test.(The new draft guidelines are a change from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s 2012 opposition to prostate cancer screening at any age, a recommendation that led to far fewer screenings and diagnosis of prostate cancer).

Medicare (Part B) provides coverage for an annual preventive prostate cancer screening – PSA test and DRE once every 12 months for all male beneficiaries aged 50 years and older. Accurate diagnosis and submission of proper clinical documentation helps to promote error-free billing practices.

Relying on the services of a professional medical coding company can ensure this. ICD-10-CM codes for prostate cancer screening include 

Z12.5 - Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of prostate

Prostate cancer generally grows very slowly. Most men with prostate cancer are above 65 years old. Regular screening and diagnosis will not only help patients better manage the symptoms, but also improve patient function thereby enhancing their quality of life.

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Physicians can work to increase awareness regarding prostate cancer among the patient population and make them understand the advantages of the screening test for this condition.

High-diet Fat May Help SpreadProstate Cancer – Finds Study A new study reports a surprising link between obesity and the spread of prostate cancer. The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and the results were published in the Journal Nature Genetics.

Prostate cancer (PC) often starts when a protective gene (PTEN) shuts down.

But the tumors in men that lose only PTEN tend to languish in line with genetics, rarely spreading beyond the prostate gland and becoming deadly.

The cancers change, only if a second gene called “PML� also shuts down. The study showed that prostate cancers that had not lost the gene can also spread but only if they have a ready source of fat from diet.

As per the new study, researchers found that when PML is lost, cancerous cells may start churning out fat, which in turn may protect the cells from certain toxic molecules. However, the study highlights the finding that high dietary fats maypromote more aggressive cancer. Furthermore, the investigators found an obesity drug that blocks fat production can make PC regress in mice and prevent it from spreading.

Even though the study was conducted on mice, researchers are planning a clinical trial in men suffering from prostate cancer to evaluate whether obesity drugs may be an effective treatment for this cancer.

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