Men can still live active life with prostate cancer

PHILADELPHIA (NNPA) - For almost two years, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe was unaware that he was struggling with an enlarged prostate. The basketball legend recently visited a South Philadelphia clinic to share his story on coping with the medical condition. Back in 1998, Monroe was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. "When I was in my early 50s, I developed symptoms of BPH," Monroe told a group of men during a presentation at Urban Solutions, Inc.

He had urinary symptoms such as a weak stream, difficulty urinating and getting up frequently throughout the night to use the bathroom. He mistakenly attributed the symptoms to getting older until his wife Marita encouraged him to seek medical help.

"More than half of men 50 and older have BPH. A lot of us don't know it, or they are like me - thinking it's only attributed to getting older," said Monroe, who is traveling around the country to educate men about the condition.

"It's important that we do see our doctor and dialogue with our doctors about what's wrong. If something is not right, you got to go see your doctor," he told his attentive audience. "Don't be like me and wait two to three years to get something checked out."

During his presentation, Monroe underscored the importance of working with a physician to identify BPH symptoms and rule out serious conditions such as prostate cancer. During his presentation, he encouraged men to visit the Web site www.oneweekchallenge.com, take a survey and discuss the results with their physicians. The site offers information about BPH and treatment options.

For the last 10 years, Monroe has been taking the medication Flomax to treat his chronic condition.

"As a guy who is dealing with BPH, taking my medication has made my life a lot easier, because the things that I can do, I don't have to stop doing so that I can go to the bathroom," said Monroe.

He encouraged the men in the audience to take care of themselves and be willing to talk openly about their health issues. Years of being an active athlete have taken quite a toll on Monroe's body. He has undergone 26 operations. Earlier this year, he underwent a laser procedure for his prostate condition.

As the chairman of Albert Einstein's Medical Center urology department, Dr. Phillip Ginsberg encounters a large number of men who have BPH. He said it is easily treated with medication.

"As we get older, the prostate gets bigger and it keeps growing, so that's why symptoms can get worse. It's very important not to sit and suffer," said Ginsberg, who was on hand for the presentation.

Ginsberg said doctors can tell whether a patient has BPH or a more serious condition such as prostate cancer by administering a rectal examination and a prostate specific antigen blood test.

According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, severe BPH can cause serious problems over time such as urine retention and strain on the bladder that can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence - the inability to control urination. When BPH is found in its earlier stages, there is a lower risk of developing such complications.

During his 13-year career with the NBA, Monroe played for the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) and the New York Knicks. The basketball Hall of Famer is known for his flair and showmanship on the court.

The visit to Urban Solutions was like a homecoming for Monroe, who grew up in South Philadelphia and attended John Bartram High School.

Monroe's presentation tied in with Urban Solutions' focus on health education. According to Urban Solutions CEO, Yvonne Jones, the nonprofit organization provides educational and preventive medical services across the lifespan.

Monroe's appearance was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.