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Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Do you know if you’re at risk? According to the Centers for Disease Control, prostate cancer is the most common cancer (after skin cancer) affecting men in the United States. In fact, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.
Finding and treating prostate cancer early can save lives. Although the cause of prostate cancer is not known, there are some groups of men that are at higher risk for the disease including men 65 and older, men with a family history of the disease, and African-American men.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all men over age 50 get screened annually. However, the ACS also recommends that men at high-risk for the disease (African-American men and men with one or more first-degree relatives diagnosed before age 65) should begin testing at age 45. Men at even higher risk, due to multiple first-degree relatives affected at an early age, should begin testing at age 40.
There are two ways to screen for prostate cancer. The first method is the digital rectal exam (DRE). The DRE is a quick way for the doctor to check the prostate for any abnormalities. The second method is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The PSA test involves drawing blood and testing the PSA levels. If the PSA level is high, it’s likely there may be a problem.
While it’s not possible to prevent all cases of prostate cancer, there are some simple things you can do to lower your risk of getting the disease. The ACS suggests that eating less red meats and fats and eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer.
To find out more about prostate cancer risk factors, prevention and treatment, go to the American Cancer Society’s Prostate Cancer Education Page.