Prostate Cancer - Are You at Risk?

Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the fluid that feeds and transports sperm. It is also the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States and is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.

Prostate cancer typically occurs in older men and is seldom found in men under the age of 40. It occurs in 1 out of 6 men and when confined to the gland is usually treated successfully.

RISK: Every man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Along with being male, there are other risk factors, such as age, race, and family history that may contribute to the overall risk. Men at greater risk include African-America men over 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises significantly with age, and 60 percent of recently diagnosed cases occur in men over the age of 70.

The greatest risk factor is your age. This risk increases greatly after the age of 50 in caucasian men who have no family record of the disease and after the age of 40 in black men and males who have a close relative with the cancer. Having a brother with the disease appears to increase your risk more than having an affected father does. That risk is even greater when there are multiple family members affected.

SYMPTOMS: May include Problems such as urinating pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling, Low back pain, Painful ejaculation. A lot of men experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Symptoms are more apt to appear as the cancer grows.

TREATMENT: May include surgery, radiation therapy, drugs or control of hormones that affect the cancer. It often depends on the stage of the cancer and appropriate treatment is often very controversial.

Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of available treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. A radical prostatectomy is often recommended for treatment of stages A and B.

CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old. Often there are no symptoms in its early stages. If it has spread, it may be treated with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, or chemotherapy.