Health Tips - About prostate cancer
Health Tips - About prostate cancer
What should people know about cancer of the prostate?
The prostate is a male sex gland. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among Americans. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancer, diagnosed among men. It is estimated that one in every 5.5 men will develop prostate cancer sometime during his life.
Is the number of men with prostate cancer increasing?
There are more men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in New York State now than there were in the 1980s. It is believed that most of the increase has been due to more screening for prostate cancer. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test can identify very early cases of prostate cancer, many years before they would otherwise be diagnosed, increasing the incidence rate in parts of the state with active screening programs. Also, prostate cancer is more common at older ages and more men are living longer and reaching the ages when prostate cancer most frequently occurs. The death rate from prostate cancer, however, is declining.
Who gets prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is more common among older men. Almost 75% of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer in New York State are age 65 and over. Prostate cancer occurs more frequently among Black men than among white men. Black men are also more likely to die from the disease than white men.
What causes prostate cancer?
At this time, scientists do not know exactly what causes prostate cancer. We do know that certain characteristics increase a man’s chance of getting prostate cancer. These risk factors include:
- increasing age – as men get older their risk of getting prostate cancer increases.
- race – Black men in New York State are one and half times more likely to get prostate cancer and almost twice as likely to die from the disease than white men.
- residence – men living in North American and Europe are more likely to get prostate cancer than those living in Asia, Africa or South America.
Studies also indicate that the amount of fat in a man’s diet may be associated with prostate cancer. Other research suggests that 5% to 10% of prostate cancers may have a genetic link.
What can I do to reduce my chances of getting prostate cancer?
Currently, prostate cancer cannot be prevented, but eating a health diet may reduce the risk of getting prostate cancer, as well as other cancers and chronic diseases. Men who are considering screening for prostate cancer should talk with their health care provider about the advantages and disadvantages and whether they are good candidates for prostate cancer screening.