Harlem Word: Dr. Carlton McGregor tells us about prostate cancer

Dr. Carlton McGregor, MD, is an internist [1] and pulmonary (lung diseases) specialist [2] who works at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In fall 2024, he was diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer [3]. As a result of his experience, he recognized the importance of discussing prostate cancer and making people aware of the disease. Read the article below to learn more about prostate cancer!

Q: What is prostate cancer [3]?

A: Prostate cancer takes place in a man's prostate [4]-only men have a prostate which is a walnut-sized gland at the base of the penis. The prostate gland creates fluid that along with sperm makes up ejaculate [5]. This fluid helps improve the ability of the sperm to survive and swim. It also protects the genetic material (DNA) in the sperm.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Within the last 20 years there have been many more men diagnosed with prostate cancer. This is because people are being screened more and are living longer. As we've done more screening, we're finding more cases of prostate cancer.

Q: What happens if you don't get screened for prostate cancer?

A: Prostate cancer [3]usually grows slowly and stays in the prostate gland [4] where it doesn't cause serious harm. When prostate cancer is discovered early-when it's still in the prostate gland, there is a better chance of successful treatment.

Major problems can occur when you have prostate cancer that spreads to your bones. You can have extreme pain in your bones and it can spread to your spine. It can also be very difficult to treat when it reaches this stage. One of my patients found that the cancer had spread out of his prostate gland to his spine and caused his vertebra [6] to collapse. He ended up being on a breathing machine [7]. That's the worst-case scenario, but it is a story that makes you understand the importance of screening. The key thing is to detect prostate cancer early so you can choose from many treatment options and reduce the risk of having metastatic disease [8], or disease that spreads to other parts of the body.

To read more about prostate cancer, Dr. McGregor recommends visiting the Mayo Clinic Prostate Cancer website [9].

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.