Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men behind skin cancer. Estimates suggest that of the 2.5 million American men living with prostate cancer, approximately 30,000 die from it annually. This article offers essential information on risk factors, symptoms, advanced treatments and more.

Definition

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. This gland is normally the size of a walnut but enlarges with age. Similar to other types of cancer, prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate begin growing and dividing more rapidly than normal cells. This change in the cells will often cause a growth or tumor; with prostate cancer, men may be unaware of this growth.

Risk Factors

While the exact causes of prostate cancer are still relatively unknown, certain risk factors related to prostate cancer are centered on four issues.

1. The greatest risk factor related to prostate cancer is aging. Prostate cancer is most common in men over 65, but chances of developing prostate cancer increase after age 50.

2. Family history is another risk factor involved with prostate cancer, the closer the relation between members the higher the risk. If a man's father or brother has had prostate cancer, his chances of developing the cancer increase two to three times above the average.

3. A man's race can affect his likelihood of developing prostate cancer. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancer while Asian men have the lowest.

4. Diet is also a risk factor. Men who are obese and eat large amounts of animal fat—particularly from red meat—are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Symptoms

Often there are no direction symptoms of prostate cancer, which makes looking for those symptoms more difficult. The prostate's location near the bladder means that symptoms could be related to a number of different medical issues. However, here are the most common symptoms of prostate cancer:

• trouble urinating
• increased frequency of urination
• decreased force when urinating
• blood in the urine and semen
• swelling in the legs
• discomfort in the pelvic or rectal region
• pain with ejaculation

When to discuss with your doctor

Brad Stevenson, MD, at the Ogden Clinic, recommends most men should start to have a discussion with their health-care provider around age 50. "For men at an increased risk of prostate cancer, such as having a family history or being of African-American descent, the discussion should start around age 40," says Dr. Stevenson. He qualifies that if someone has concerns with about their prostate at any age they should not hesitate to discuss it with their healthcare provider.

Screenings

Most prostate cancers are usually found in ether a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, or a digital rectal exam (DRE).

PSA TEST: A PSA test measures the amount of PSA in your blood. PSA is a protein produced in the prostate. Most healthy men have PSA levels under 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood. The chance of having prostate cancer increases as the PSA level goes rises.If the PSA is more than 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50 percent.

DRE TEST: The more taboo of the two tests, the DRE test checks for growths in or enlargement of the prostate. A tumor in the prostate can often be felt as a hard lump. During the examination, the doctor places a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum. He or she may use the other hand to feel the lower belly or pelvic area.

Dr. Stevenson understands the stigma attached to this process of prostate cancer screening but believes we are making strides in that area. "I think that increased awareness through campaigns like Men's Health Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Movember has made the subject of prostate cancer screening less intimidating." He hopes that this increased awareness will cause more men to think about men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, and increase dialogue between them and their health care provider on the issue.

Advances in treatments

"Right now is an exciting time to be in urology," says Dr. Stevenson. "Currently there are several exciting treatments available that were not an option for many patients just a few years ago." Dr. Stevenson says robotic and laser surgeries for prostates are becoming more of the norm. He says that this is allowing patients to take advantage of faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays and less invasive surgery.

Prevention

Currently, there is no supplement for medication that someone can take to prevent prostate cancer. However, Dr. Stevenson offers advice in what he believes is the best alternative approach for prostate health.

"The best thing you can do for prostate health is maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Some population-based research suggests that prostate cancer is increased in populations after they have adopted a westernized diet. Recent research has also linked obesity with and increased risk of prostate cancer. Following a generally healthy diet that is high in vegetables and maintaining a healthy weight with regular exercise will be the best thing you can do for your prostate health and your overall health."

Talk to a medical provider today about any possible risks of prostate cancer and work with him or her to take steps toward prevention.

Related topics