Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, behind only skin cancer. In recent years, advances in screening, surgery and radiation treatment have improved outcomes and led to an increase in what is known as active surveillance after the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer. “The goal of active surveillance is to maximize the quality of life for patients while at the same time preserving the quantity of life,” said Akshay Sood, MD, a James urologic oncologist who specializes in treating prostate and bladder cancer. Dr. Sood explained the importance of screening, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and what it means, the Gleason score and how these numbers help oncologists determine when to treat patients. He also discussed what’s involved in prostate-cancer surgery and radiation treatments, and advances in both of these areas. Dr. Sood is also one of the leaders of the James Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Clinic and he described the benefits to patients of this all-in-one clinic that includes a large team of prostate cancer experts. “Unfortunately, there are no symptoms, which is why screening is so important,” Dr. Sood said of prostate cancer. PSA screening should begin at the age of 45 for most men. African American men (who have a higher rate of prostate cancer) and those with a family history of prostate and other types of cancers should begin their yearly PSA screenings at 40. “A PSA level below 4 is considered normal, while a score above 4 is abnormal,” Dr. Sood said. A high score will often lead to a biopsy to determine of the patient has cancer and, if they do, where it ranks on the Gleason scale and the genetic mutation causing the cancer.