Do You Know Your Risk Level Of Getting Prostate Cancer?
By Mario Xavier
Prostate cancer is a disease that will affect one in six men. One in thirty-four will actually die from the disease. Because it does not show symptoms in the early stages of the disease, many men don't even know they have prostrate cancer. It is often detected in the body after a person dies from another illness.
The cause of prostate cancer is not known. But like many other types of cancers, there are risk factors that can increase your chances of getting it at some point in your life.
The biggest factor for getting prostate cancer is age. Most doctors do not recommend screening until the age of 50 as few men are diagnosed before this age. However as you get closer to age 65, the number of men diagnosed increases dramatically. It should be noted that screening could occur as early as age 40 if several risk factors are present or there is a medial history of this type of cancer.
Race is also a huge risk factor for prostrate cancer. Male African American's have a greater risk than Asian, Hispanic or Caucasian's for developing prostrate cancer. The risk factor is so high that screening is often recommended before the age of 50.
If your father or any of your brothers have been diagnosed with this disease you run a higher risk and should speak with your doctor about early screenings. You should also check your family history to see if any of your other relatives or grandparents had the disease.
Like many other diseases, your diet also plays a big role in causing prostate cancer. It is usually recommended that you follow a low fat and high in fruits and vegetables diet. This can help to reduce your risk of cancer.
The good news is that it is easy to discover in a routine screening by your doctor. How often you should start getting these screenings depends on your risk factor for getting the disease. It is important to know what these factors are so you can make an informed choice. Understanding the factors will give you an idea of when you should start screening and watching for signs of the disease.
Early detection is key to combating this disease and allowing you to continue with a long, healthy life. If you or people you know fall into any of these risk factors I encourage you to set up a buddy system to ensure yearly screenings are conducted. While this may be uncomfortable, it will be worth it if early detection occurs.
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