Advice on Addressing Advanced-Stage Diagnosis of GU Cancers During COVID-19

Clayton Lau, MD, chief, Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology, director, Prostate Cancer Program, head, Retroperitoneal Surgery, an associate clinical professor, Department of Surgery at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, advises primary care physicians and specialists on how to help address the rising prevalence of advanced-stage genitourinary (GU) cancers.

According to a recent interview with Lau, there has been a large number of patients with advanced disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the problem is related to lack of screening, late screening, and patients not going to the doctor.

Lau believes that providers can be a part of the solution moving forward.

Transcription:

0:08| I think it's important for physicians, you know, specifically primary care doctors or even specialists to tell their patients to or educate the patients to continue the screening. You know, for the GU cancers, certainly for patients that have first view relatives that have prostate cancer, they probably should be screened sooner than traditionally. So, start screening patients at age 40.

0:33| Also, [for] African Americans, certainly consider screening earlier having that conversation. You know, consider screening at 40 or 45, with the PSA, rectal exam and maybe even an MRI to help determine if they have something that's, you know, they need to be biopsied. But it's important for all physicians to that, you know, to have their patients screened for all the GU cancers and other cancers.