Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Sept. 2, 2025 – Each September, we shine a spotlight on prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers affecting men in our community. Despite the effectiveness of early detection and treatment options, this cancer still causes the second-most cancer deaths in men.

Dr. Emma Jacobs with St. Bernards Urology explains what men should know about this disease and their risk of receiving a diagnosis.

QUESTION: How prevalent is prostate cancer in men?

Dr. JACOBS: About one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. Our goal is to find those cancers early while we have more treatment options.

QUESTION: What’s the outlook for a man diagnosed with prostate cancer?

DR. JACOBS: When prostate cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is almost 100 percent. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, however, that survival rate drops to about 37 percent.

QUESTION: What does screening look like?

DR. JACOBS: It usually begins with a simple blood test called a PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, test. PSA is made in the prostate, and this test measures the levels of it in the blood. If these levels are high, it may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. A doctor may also do a physical screening, called a digital rectal exam. This test lets the provider feel abnormalities in the prostate’s size and shape.

QUESTION: Who should get screened?

DR. JACOBS: Men with an average risk of prostate cancer should have their first screening at age 50. Meanwhile, men with a high risk of prostate cancer should start at age 45. This group includes African American men and men with a first-degree relative, such as a father or brother, who received a prostate cancer diagnosis before the age of 65. Finally, screening should begin at age 40 if a man has more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer. 

QUESTION: How often should eligible men be screened?

DR. JACOBS: Men with PSA levels greater than 2.5 ng/mL usually get screened every year. If the levels are less than 2.5 ng/mL, the screenings may take place every two years. As always, however, a physician can partner with a patient to determine how often a screening should take place.

QUESTION: How often do we see prostate cancer in Arkansas?

DR. JACOBS: According to the National Cancer Institute, Arkansas’s incidence rate of prostate cancer is nearly 9 percent lower than the national average. On first glance, it looks like we have fewer prostate cancers in Arkansas than elsewhere. Digging deeper, however, we see that our mortality rate is over 4 percent higher than the national average, meaning we find more prostate cancers that have spread to other parts of the body. If more men get those recommended screening tests, we may find more prostate cancers, but we can address them before they cause other problems.

QUESTION: What happens if someone gets a prostate cancer diagnosis?

DR. JACOBS: Many cases of low-risk prostate cancer are “watched” with a protocol called active surveillance. If treatment is needed, St. Bernards uses the latest technology to treat prostate cancer, including multiple surgical options. We have been a leader in da Vinci robotic surgery for years but are always adding new treatments. Earlier this year, for example, our team performed Arkansas’s first noninvasive treatment of early-stage prostate cancer. This procedure, known as Robotic Focal HIFU, uses sound waves to target and treat cancer cells inside the prostate. It leaves healthy tissue unharmed, lowering the chance of side effects like incontinence or erectile dysfunction.

Still, if the disease is more advanced, we may work closely with an oncology team to get a man the care he needs. St. Bernards recently installed a new linear accelerator that brings the latest radiation oncology technology to the region.

QUESTION: St. Bernards is hosting “Men’s Health Day” in September. What is it?

DR. JACOBS: On Friday, Sept. 19, from 7 to 10 a.m., St. Bernards’ annual Men’s Health Day will take place at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro. This day is dedicated to all things related to men’s health, including free health screenings and educational opportunities. Most notably, my urology colleagues and I will perform free prostate cancer screenings for all men who meet the screening criteria. While it only takes a few minutes, it could save lives.

For more information about St. Bernards Urology, click here.