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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 Page 5 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ A public conversation about prostate cancer Community leader Peter Manoogian shares his experience of being diagnosed with the disease and his treatment Editor’s Note: The Saugus Senior Center will host a new community-based group that will focus on prostate cancer awareness at 10 a.m. on Jan. 19 at the center. We decided to reach out to one of the organizers of the upcoming forum – Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian – a lifelong Saugus resident, who agreed to share his own health experience after being diagnosed with the disease and treated. Manoogian is one of three longtime community members who will discuss their experience with the disease at the upcoming forum. They will share what they have learned with participants to inform and encourage men and their partners about the importance of accurate screening and detection. The goal of Saugus Prostate Awareness is to raise awareness of prostate cancer, to encourage men to seek screening, to share personal experiences and to provide suggestions for participants. While this disease is specific to men, women are welcome and encouraged to attend the group meeting. For more information about the meeting or to register, please call the Senior Center at 781-231-4182. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: When did you learn you had prostate cancer? A: I was diagnosed on April 7, 2021. Q: What were the major symptoms? Is frequent nighttime urination one of them? A: Frequent nighttime urination is not considered a symptom. It can be associated with prostate cancer, but the main symptom is a steep increase in your PSA [Prostate-Specific Antigen]. Once it goes over 4.0, bells and whistles should go off. Mine went over 4, and then I found in another blood test that it was 5.9. A steep rise in the PSA in a short period of time is an indicator that you should have the MRI on the prostate and have it looked at. Mine was hovering around 2 for many years. In 2017, it started to climb. On Dec. 10, 2019, it was 3.99. On January 4, 2021, I was 4.49. On March 17, 2021, it was 6.11. On March 31, it was 4.94. Q: So, if you weren’t paying attention to your numbers, you might have prostate cancer, but you might not know anything about it until it was too late? A: Bingo! Having a PSA that PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR: Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian was diagnosed with prostate cancer on April 7, 2021. He had surgery on November 8. From a few days before his surgery to a few days after, his PSA went from 5.91 to .03. He is one of three longtime community members who will talk about their experience with the disease at a prostate cancer awareness forum being hosted by the Saugus Senior Center at 10 a.m. on Jan 19. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) has a sharp rate of increase in a short period of time is what you want to be concerned about. Part of your physical should be a PSA test. And don’t assume that your PSA is being tested when you go for your regular testing. You should request it – and not just one – having it done over a period of time is important. Q: Do you have a family history of this disease? A: My older brother had it 11 years ago, and he had treatment. Two of my first cousins had it. Family history is one of the factors, which is true with my family. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles your risk of having this disease. Q: What are some of the other factors? A: Diet is a factor. Stress is a factor. Prostate cancer feeds on testosterone. Other risk factors are race and ethnicity. For some reason, African American men have a higher risk factor. Prostate cancer is more common in North America and Northwestern Europe and in your industrialized countries and less prevalent in Asia. Even in America, Asian Americans have a lower risk of having prostate cancer, but it’s higher than their counPeter Manoogian’s PSA readings terparts in Asia. With veterans, a possible exposure to Agent Orange could be a factor, but it’s not definitive. And, sadly, ethnic minorities may not get screened as often as they should. And Saugus is becoming more diverse ethnically. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. About six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men at diagnosis is about 66. Q: So, what about Saugus? A: The men in this community would be more at risk because it’s an older population. The 2020 U.S. Census has revealed that the median age of Saugus residents is 48 compared to the state [median age, which] is 39.4, [which] suggests that prostate cancer could be more commonplace in Saugus compared to the state. As you get older, the risk gets higher. There’s a saying out there: More men die with prostate cancer than from it. Q: What was your treatment program? A: I selected surgery – the removal of my prostate. I made a decision that was best for me, for my particular goals and my particular cancer – being on the edge, it was ready to break out. It was bulging up against the edge. Q: What were the results? A: They took out my prostate and my PSA is undetectable. I will be having my PSA tested for the rest of my life. It’s just like having your A1c [average blood glucose] tested or your blood pressure tested. You learn to live with your diagnosis. But you have to do your own research and ask a ASKS | SEE PAGE 14

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