Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Prostate Cancer

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Prostate PicWhat is Prostate Cancer? - Prostate Cancer is a cancer that only men can have.  The Prostate gland is a part of both urinary system and the reproductive system in men.  When cancer develops in the prostate gland it can spread to other parts of the body too.

Did you know? - Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in men other than skin cancer.  It kills more men than any other cancer except lung cancer.  The death rate is going down but more than 28,000 men will die of this disease this year.

Risk Factors - Age - Prostate cancer is rare before the age of 40.  The risk increases with age.

Race/Ethnicity - Prostate cancer occurs more often in the African -American men, less in Asian-American and Hispanic-Latino than non-Hispanic white men.

Family History - Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles the risk for developing the cancer.

Screening Guidelines - The American Cancer Society recommends: Health Care Professionals should offer yearly:

PSA (Prostate specific antigen) blood test and

DRE (digital rectal exam)

Beginning age 50 - men with at least 10-year life expectancy.

Age 45 - High Risk Men (African-Americans, men with first degree relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer early in age; before 65).

Age 40 - Higher Risk Men (if several first degree relatives have had prostate cancer at an early age)

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