Men’s Health: Facts About Prostate Cancer

When It’s Caught Early, Prostate Cancer Can Be Cured

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in American men. But it grows slowly, and most men can beat it, with treatment.
Are you at risk for prostate cancer?
A lot of men with prostate cancer don’t have symptoms until their cancer gets worse.
That’s why you should know your risks:

• Age – About three out of every fi ve prostate cancers are found in men over 65.
• Family history – Men whose fathers or brothers have prostate cancer are twice as likely to have it.
• Race – Men of African descent are more likely to get prostate cancer than men of other races.
• Weight – Being very overweight can lead to a delay in fi nding the cancer, so it has more time to grow.
• Diet – Men who eat a lot of red meat and high-fat dairy, and don’t eat many fruits and vegetables, have a higher risk of getting prostate cancer.

Getting Checked For Prostate Cancer

Since most men don’t have any symptoms, it is often found during a routine digital rectal exam (DRE). There is also a blood test, called the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. It screens for raised levels of PSA, a protein made by the prostate.