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Prostate cancer: Prevention & early detectionPrevention & detection | Diagnostics & staging | Treatments | Clinical trials | Our team | For physicians | Contact us | Prostate cancer home Risk factorsUnderstanding how disease can strike one person and not another is still a perplexing part of medicine. While there are certain risk factors that increase a man's chance of developing prostate cancer, these risk factors are not absolute. Many men with one or more risk factors will never contract the illness, while others with no apparent risk factors will find themselves with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Age – Age is one of the primary risk factors. Though prostate cancer is rare in men under 40, a man's chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50; and two-thirds of men with prostate cancer are over the age of 65. Race – Race also plays a role in who may develop prostate cancer. African-Americans are more likely to develop the illness and also more likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage of the cancer than Caucasian men. Family history – Prostate cancer appears to have a genetic component and seems to run in some families. If you have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer, your risk for developing the disease doubles. Your risk also is higher if you have several relatives who have had prostate cancer, particularly if they were younger when they contracted the illness. If you have a family history of prostate cancer it's important to discuss early screening with your physician. The American Cancer Society guidelines indicate that men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screening five years before the earliest diagnosis of a family member. Diet – Men who have a diet high in red meat and high fat seem to contract prostate cancer more often, along with men who consume fewer fruits and vegetables. Also, men who lead a more sedentary lifestyle and do not maintain their optimal weight put themselves more at risk. PreventionUnderstanding what puts a man at higher risk also provides us valuable information toward taking preventive steps with our health. By making changes in their diets, men can reduce their risk. Men should limit high-fat foods and foods from animal sources and eat more fruits and vegetables. For those at higher risk, there also are medications that can be used to decrease a man's chances of developing prostate cancer. By blocking growth of the prostate, the medication prevents the gland from responding to stimulation by male hormones and has been effective in reducing a man's risk by 25 percent Signs and symptomsThe beginning stages of prostate cancer often show few, if any, noticeable signs or symptoms which is why early screenings are so important. Some possible warning symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer include:
Early detectionEarly detection is still one of our strongest tools in minimizing the effects of prostate cancer. When found in its earliest, most treatable stage, we can minimize its impact on nerve damage and other side effects from many of the common treatments. Beginning at age 50, the American Cancer Society recommends a yearly two-step program for early detection:
The American Cancer Society recommends testing begin at age 40 for men who are at high-risk due to a family history of the disease.
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