CINCINNATI (September 3, 2024) – Spotting cancer early saves lives. September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and The Christ Hospital Health Network wants to remind men about the importance of screening, options for treatment and ways to lower their risk.
The most common form of cancer in men behind only skin cancer, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life. It’s more likely to develop in older men and non-Hispanic Black men. The American Cancer Society reports that the prostate cancer death rate was cut in half between 1993 to 2013 thanks to earlier detection and better treatment options.
“Prostate cancer can be detected early even before you may show symptoms,” Brian Mannion, MD, oncologist at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Your doctor will recommend screening based on your age, health, risk factors and family history. Treatment options may include surgery or radiation and are two widely used routine options.”
One way to screen for prostate cancer includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. PSA is a protein made by cells in the prostate gland and it measure the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. Another test includes a digital rectal exam (DRE). This test involved a doctor checking for the prostate with a gloved finger feeling for bumps or abnormalities.
The Christ Hospital Health Network also announced becoming the first hospital system in the region to use the Da Vinci Single Port (SP) robotic surgical system, marking a groundbreaking advancement in minimally invasive surgery for Urology and prostate cancer.
The Da Vinci SP system is uniquely designed for single-incision, revolutionizing patient outcomes by reducing hospital stays and accelerating recovery times. Unlike traditional multi-port robotic systems, the SP robot enables procedures to transition from a 2 to 4-day hospital stay to outpatient status, allowing most patients to return home the same day as their surgery.
“Our introduction of the Single Port robotic system represents a significant advancement in minimally invasive surgery,” said Justin Cox, MD, Urologist at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “This technology allows us to offer our patients unparalleled precision, faster recovery times and better outcomes, positioning us at the forefront of surgical innovation in Cincinnati.”
Dr. Cox and Anish Shah, MD, both urologists at The Christ Hospital Health Network, were recognized as two of America’s Best Prostate Cancer Surgeons for 2024 by Newsweek.
The Christ Hospital Health Network will be hosting a virtual Men’s Health Seminar at the end of the month with Dr. Cox and other physicians from family medicine, cardiology and orthopedics on Thursday September 26 from Noon – 1:00 p.m. To register, click here.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2024. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.