Did you know that approximately 2.8 million American men are living with prostate cancer? Each year, over 29,000 men die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
However, there are preventive steps that all men can take, such as following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and communicating with their doctor, to change these statistics. The five-year survival rate of prostate cancer is almost 100 percent when the disease is diagnosed early.
So what else do you need to know?
What are the risk factors?
The primary risk factors of prostate cancer are:
- Age: Over 80 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men 65 years or older
- Ethnicity: Prostate cancer occurs most often in North America and northern Europe. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancer
- Family history: If a man has a first-degree relative with prostate cancer, his risk of developing it is two to three times higher than average
- Obesity: Overweight and obese men are more likely to have prostate cancer than men of a healthier weight
What are the warning signs?
Early diagnosis is key. Know the symptoms.
The most common symptoms of prostate cancer are:
- Difficulty urinating and increased frequency of urination
- Blood in urine and semen
- Swelling in the legs
- Discomfort in the pelvis or rectal region
What should I do next?
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms and warning bells are starting to ring in your head, see a doctor immediately. The earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. If you are not experiencing symptoms of prostate cancer, communicate with your doctor about how early—and how often—he or she would recommend screenings. For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute.