Prostate Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death for American men. In fact, the American Cancer Association predicts that there will be near 165,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2018. From these cases, 30,000 deaths are predicted. Harvard Medical Center states that prostate cancer is especially dangerous because “the growth of cancerous cells inside the prostate…may break out of the gland and affect other parts of the body.” They add that 1 in 7 American men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
The American Cancer Association discusses how early detection of prostate cancer can be difficult. The test for it, called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, has some issues. First, it does not detect all of the types of the cancer. Secondly, high PSA levels do not always mean that there is cancer. Researchers are working to improve the tests, so more cases can be detected early. This makes it even more important to know the risk factors for the disease.
There are certain risk factors for the disease. Knowing that you could be at risk can be the first step in prevention. The following are some major risk factors:
The first risk factor, not surprisingly, is age. The American Cancer society states that “About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65.” Once you hit 60, you should be talking to your provider about the increased risk.
The men who have the highest risk for developing prostate cancer are African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry. The American Cancer society states that “African-American men are also more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men.”
If you have had a first generation relative (such as a father, brother, or uncle), you are more likely to be diagnosed with the cancer yourself. However, the risk is the highest if you have a brother who has developed the cancer. The risk is also higher if you have multiple relatives with the disease and if it was found at an early age.
There has been a link to a high consumption of dairy products and prostate cancer. The Mayo Clinic reports “In studies, men who ate the most dairy products — such as milk, cheese and yogurt — each day had the highest risk of prostate cancer.” Cutting out dairy and eating more fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer.
If you are over the age of 50, it you should talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and other issues that can arise with your prostate. At Complete Care Health Centers, our providers are all experts in making patients feel comfortable. It has been shown that seeing your provider can help your chances of living a healthy life. Call our clinic today if you are have any of the risk factors listed above. You may be able to decrease your risk of developing the disease.