Prostate Cancer Awareness
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
North American men (other than skin cancer). It is the
second leading cause of cancer death in men (after lung
cancer). Both the number of new cases of prostate
cancer and the number of deaths due to prostate cancer
have increased in the past decade.
Anything that increases a person's chance
of developing a disease is called a risk factor. Some
of these risk factors for prostate cancer are as
follows:
Age - Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men
younger than 50 years old. The chance of developing
prostate cancer increases as men get
older.
Race - Nationally, Black males are more
likely to develop prostate cancer thanCaucasian males.
Black males are also more likely to die of prostate
cancer than Caucasian males. Hispanic and Asian males
follow in incidence.
Family History of Prostate Cancer - A man
whose father, brother, or son has had prostate cancer
has a higher-than-average risk of developing prostate
cancer. The more first degree relatives with the
disease the higher the risk.
Diet - A diet rich in animal fat is known to
increase the risk of prostate cancer. Red meat, dairy
products and eggs are rich in animal fat. Moderation is
the keyword.
Even if you aren't included specifically
in one of the risk categories....it's still a wise
choice to get tested for prostate cancer. Early
detection can be the key to survival ...why take a
chance.
