Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. A man is more likely to develop prostate cancer than he is to develop colon, kidney, melanoma, and stomach cancers combined. As men get older, the risk of developing prostate cancer increases exponentially. Prostate cancer can be silent — it’s important to get checked, even if you have no symptoms. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, with 1 man in 41 succumbing to prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Screening
Recent research has shown that deaths from prostate cancer have decreased by 30% since the PSA test became available. Early diagnosis can help catch the cancer before it becomes life-threatening or causes serious symptoms.
CBCC provides complementary prostate cancer screenings such as PSA blood tests for men 50+ during the month of September, National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors
One in eight men in the U.S. will develop prostate cancer. The risk is greater for certain populations. Researchers have found several factors that might affect a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer.
Age
About 6 in 10 cases are found in men over the age of 65. Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50.
Race/Ethnicity
Prostate cancer develops more often in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. And when it does develop in these men, they tend to be younger. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.
Geography
Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear.
Family History
If your relatives have a history of prostate cancer, you may be twice as likely to develop the disease. Prostate cancer seems to run in some families. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives.
Other Factors
Some factors have a less clear effect on prostate cancer risk such as diet and obesity.
Some studies have suggested that men who eat a lot of dairy products appear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. Some studies have found that obese men have a lower risk of getting a low-grade (slower growing) form of the disease, but a higher risk of getting more aggressive (faster growing) prostate cancer. The reasons for this are not clear.