Prostate Cancer Affects One in Eight American Men - Knowing the Risks and Having a Screening Plan are Key

6/12/2023

Knowing the Risks and Having a Screening Plan are Key

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, except for skin cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer progressively increases with age, and while it’s rare before the age of 40, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetimes. There is some good news as it pertains to the prevention and survival rates related to this particular form of cancer.

“While it’s most certainly a serious disease, it’s important to know that most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do NOT die from it,” said Sean McLaughlin, M.D., urologist with Tennova Urology - Clarksville. “In fact, over 4 million men in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point, are still alive today.”

There are certain factors that put people at a higher risk – both for being diagnosed with, and dying from, prostate cancer. These include:

• Race and ethnicity. Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry, than in men of other races. These men are also more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. Reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.
• Family history. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young when the cancer was found.

Interestingly, studies have not shown a clear link between certain lifestyle and dietary factors and the occurrence of prostate cancer. However, there is recent evidence that certain food choices may be directly related to reducing the risk of cancer in men. Some good choices are:

• Tomatoes and other red foods. Tomatoes, watermelon and other red foods owe their bright color to a powerful antioxidant called lycopene, and studies show men who consume it regularly have a lower incidence of prostate cancer.
• Coffee! Several studies over three decades suggest that a serious coffee habit is linked to a lower risk of fatal prostate cancer. Drinking an average of three cups of coffee a day is estimated to reduce your risk of fatal prostate cancer by more than 10 percent, but the benefits may not extend to those who are only occasional coffee drinkers.
• Good fats. Studies show a general link between animal fats and an increased risk of all cancers. Whenever possible, replace animal-based fats with plant-based fats, including olive oil instead of butter, nuts or seeds instead of cheese, and avocadoes or olives instead of packaged snacks. Also, overcooking meats produces carcinogens, so be careful not to grill or broil your meat to well-done.

Much attention has been given to prostate screenings in recent years. There is clear evidence that screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can reduce the number of deaths from prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer is often so slow growing that it would not cause a man any problems during the course of his life. For this reason, many men do not benefit from treatment for prostate cancer and may unnecessarily suffer from its side effects, such as long-term problems with urinary and sexual function.

Overall health status, and not age alone, is important when making decisions about screening. “Often the best path of treatment for a prostate cancer diagnosis is sometimes just observation,” said Dr. McLaughlin. “Even after a decision about testing has been made, the discussion about the pros and cons of testing should be repeated as new information about the benefits and risks of testing becomes available. Further discussions are also needed to take into account changes in a man’s health, values and preferences.”

Work with your doctor to define a screening plan for prostate health, especially if you fall into one of the high-risk categories, or are experiencing any urinary or sexual dysfunction symptoms. If you need to be connected to a provider who specializes in prostate health, contact Tennova Urology - Clarksville at (931) 502-3836 or www.tennovaclarksvilledocs.com.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/understanding-cancer-risk/cancer-facts/cancer-facts-for-men.html

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