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On The Awareness Of Prostate Cancer

A concern for most men between the ages of late thirties and early sixties and on, prostate cancer can be prevented and treated, but you should do the adequate amount of research if you feel you may suffer from this ailment before going in to see your doctor about your condition. During their lifetime, males have a one in ten chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and with over 200,000 cases diagnosed annually in the Untied States it is best to stay aware of your options.

Prostate cancer is caused by a malignant tumor that begins growing in the prostate gland, and it can spread to the lymph nodes, bones, or other organs. The male hormone testosterone can stimulate the growth of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells, creating the second leading cause of death for men, but the good news is that survival rates have improved quite a bit with the advent of the proper technology. In the past twenty years, the five-year survival rates have risen from 67 percent to 99 percent.

Some of the important risk factors to consider are age, family history, ethnicity, diet and obesity. Those at risk for developing prostate cancer have this risk increased as they grow older, as more than seventy percent of the cases for prostate cancer have been documented in men over the age of 65, and men are eleven times more likely to get prostate cancer if their father or brother have this problem or it occurs elsewhere in the close male relatives. The death rate is 2.4 times higher in African-American men than Caucasian males, and research indicates that diet can be a major factor in prostate health, with the death rate increasing even more in obese males.

According to the American Cancer Society, testing for prostate cancer should begin with men aged 50 and older with a life expectancy of ten or more years, and those over the age of 45 who find themselves in high-risk groups. The various tests that they administer to identify and treat any problems are prostate-specific antigen blood tests and digital rectal exams, and they should be done about once a year to keep your health in check. With all these aspects to be aware of, there is no time like the present to begin research into the subject, and especially if you happen to find yourself in a high-risk category.