Focus on your Prostate
Prostate cancer can be a silent killer of men, but it’s so slow to develop that the disease can usually be caught early. The key is getting a regular exam.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
This walnut-sized gland sits just below the bladder, where it produces the fluid that combines with sperm to create semen. More than 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer are reported in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Scientists haven’t yet directly pinpointed what causes it — but there are successful treatments in place, if detected early. Your risks are elevated with age. The average of diagnosed men is 66, according to the American Cancer Society. Six in 10 of those with prostate cancer are 65 and older. So, annual prostate exams are encouraged for men once they reach 50. Those at a higher risk should start earlier, including men with several close relatives who have suffered from the disease.
WHAT HAPPENS
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer among men in America, behind only skin cancer. About one in eight men will be positively diagnosed, the American Cancer Society says. Life-saving screenings for this form of cancer are done in one of two ways. A prostate-specific blood test has been developed to check your antigen levels. Men are told not to exercise heavily or ejaculate for 48 hours prior to testing so doctors don’t get an inaccurate reading. Digital rectal exams are more common, as physicians evaluate the size of the prostate and any possible abnormalities like hard spots, lumps or growths. Neither test will confirm the presence of prostate cancer, but they provide important indicators so a medical professional knows whether to order a biopsy.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Doctors attack this form of cancer through chemotherapy and radiation, and in some cases vaccines or surgery.
Decisions about which treatment option the patient is best suited for will be made based on the stage of detected cancer and the patient’s age.
You can lower your risk of prostate cancer by living a healthier lifestyle. Focus on eating so-called “superfoods,” which contain antioxidants that inhibit cancer. They include kale, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
Red vegetables and fruits, which get their color from lycopene, can also have positive benefits. They are said to destroy free radicals that attempt to attach to cells, damaging the immune system.