Despite only affecting men, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America. As men grow older, their chances of getting prostate cancer increase greatly.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), men under 40 need not worry nearly as much as their elders. While 1 in 10,000 men under 40 years of age will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, those chances increase dramatically for those same men once they're between the ages of 60 and 69, when they have a 1 in 14 chance of diagnosis. Though that can understandably induce fear in men and the people who care for them, prostate cancer isn't unbeatable. In fact, when diagnosed and treated early, the cure rate for prostate cancer is 90 percent, offering hope to those facing such a diagnosis.
Symptoms
Men should not leave the detection of prostate cancer up to their doctors and their doctors alone. Since prostate cancer has such a high cure rate when detected early, much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the individual, who shouldn't be afraid to report any of the following symptoms the moment they take effect.
·Frequent urination, especially throughout the night.
·Blood in urine or semen.
·Lower back, hip or upper thigh pain that is frequent and persistent.
·Painful urination, where a burning sensation can be overwhelming.
·Difficulty urinating, when the flow of urine is noticeably weak or even interrupted.
While those are some of the symptoms, others can show up as well, including difficulty obtaining an erection as well as painful ejaculation. Any of the aforementioned symptoms should be reported to a physician immediately, as early detection is a man's biggest ally in his fight against prostate cancer.
Risk Factors
Another important ally in battling prostate cancer is not only the knowledge of potential symptoms, but the knowledge of risk factors as well. These can be beyond a man's control, but should shed light on just how likely he may or may not be to eventually be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
·Genetics. Statistics have shown that African-American men are far more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian males. Though the precise reasons for that are unclear, it's important that African-American men recognize that increased susceptibility and take any potential symptoms seriously.
Genetics also affect those men who have seen first-degree relatives suffer from prostate cancer. The likelihood of developing prostate cancer doubles in men whose father, brother or son have had the disease. Similar to how a son with bad knees might say, "I have my father's knees," if your father has had prostate cancer, you unfortunately might also follow in his footsteps.
·Diet and lifestyle. Diet and lifestyle affect nearly everything men and women do these days. Poor diet and a lack of exercise can open the door for a multitude of health problems for men, one of which is prostate cancer. According to PCF, recent research has shown that modifying your diet can help in the fight against prostate cancer, whether it's preventing recurrence of the disease, lessening the chances you'll get it, or slowing its progress, which in turn can make treatment more effective.
Just which foods can help remains somewhat of an enigma, as research is ongoing with respect to certain theories. For instance, PCF, in their Nutrition and Prostate Cancer Guide, note that a current study is being conducted at Northwestern University to determine if tomato-based products delay the onset and progression of prostate cancer. At a minimum, two servings per week of tomato sauce seem to reduce development and progression of the disease thanks to the antioxidant lycopene found in tomatoes. Lycopene supplements, however, might not have the same effect, as absorption of lycopene can change depending on the way it is cooked or processed.
Numerous other studies, concerning what types of vegetables, the different pros and cons concerning certain vitamins and minerals, and even the truth about red meat have also been conducted.
Symptoms
Men should not leave the detection of prostate cancer up to their doctors and their doctors alone. Since prostate cancer has such a high cure rate when detected early, much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the individual, who shouldn't be afraid to report any of the following symptoms the moment they take effect.
·Frequent urination, especially throughout the night.
·Blood in urine or semen.
·Lower back, hip or upper thigh pain that is frequent and persistent.
·Painful urination, where a burning sensation can be overwhelming.
·Difficulty urinating, when the flow of urine is noticeably weak or even interrupted.
While those are some of the symptoms, others can show up as well, including difficulty obtaining an erection as well as painful ejaculation. Any of the aforementioned symptoms should be reported to a physician immediately, as early detection is a man's biggest ally in his fight against prostate cancer.
Risk Factors
Another important ally in battling prostate cancer is not only the knowledge of potential symptoms, but the knowledge of risk factors as well. These can be beyond a man's control, but should shed light on just how likely he may or may not be to eventually be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
·Genetics. Statistics have shown that African-American men are far more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian males. Though the precise reasons for that are unclear, it's important that African-American men recognize that increased susceptibility and take any potential symptoms seriously.
Genetics also affect those men who have seen first-degree relatives suffer from prostate cancer. The likelihood of developing prostate cancer doubles in men whose father, brother or son have had the disease. Similar to how a son with bad knees might say, "I have my father's knees," if your father has had prostate cancer, you unfortunately might also follow in his footsteps.
·Diet and lifestyle. Diet and lifestyle affect nearly everything men and women do these days. Poor diet and a lack of exercise can open the door for a multitude of health problems for men, one of which is prostate cancer. According to PCF, recent research has shown that modifying your diet can help in the fight against prostate cancer, whether it's preventing recurrence of the disease, lessening the chances you'll get it, or slowing its progress, which in turn can make treatment more effective.
Just which foods can help remains somewhat of an enigma, as research is ongoing with respect to certain theories. For instance, PCF, in their Nutrition and Prostate Cancer Guide, note that a current study is being conducted at Northwestern University to determine if tomato-based products delay the onset and progression of prostate cancer. At a minimum, two servings per week of tomato sauce seem to reduce development and progression of the disease thanks to the antioxidant lycopene found in tomatoes. Lycopene supplements, however, might not have the same effect, as absorption of lycopene can change depending on the way it is cooked or processed.
Numerous other studies, concerning what types of vegetables, the different pros and cons concerning certain vitamins and minerals, and even the truth about red meat have also been conducted.
Prostate Cancer by the Numbers
65%: of prostate cancer cases diagnosed in men over the age of 65
1 in 10,000: chances of men under the age of 40 of being diagnosed
1 in 38: chances of men between the ages of 40 and 59 of being diagnosed
1 in 14: chances of men between the ages of 60 and 69 of being diagnosed
1 in 6: number of American men suffering from prostate cancer
61%: African-American men are 61 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men
2.5: African-American men are 21/2 times as likely to die from prostate cancer than Caucasian men
90%: cure rate for prostate cancer when the disease is diagnosed and treated early.
65%: of prostate cancer cases diagnosed in men over the age of 65
1 in 10,000: chances of men under the age of 40 of being diagnosed
1 in 38: chances of men between the ages of 40 and 59 of being diagnosed
1 in 14: chances of men between the ages of 60 and 69 of being diagnosed
1 in 6: number of American men suffering from prostate cancer
61%: African-American men are 61 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men
2.5: African-American men are 21/2 times as likely to die from prostate cancer than Caucasian men
90%: cure rate for prostate cancer when the disease is diagnosed and treated early.
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