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1 in 6 men will develop this cancer!
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Pennsylvania. Prostate cancer accounted for the largest number (9,254 or 25.7%) of all cancer cases diagnosed among men in 2004, and was responsible for the death of 1,485 men in 2005. The number of new prostate cancer cases was 67 percent higher among African American men than white men. New cases of prostate cancer have increased rapidly in recent years. Most of this increase has been attributed to the greater use of screening guidelines, and especially the widespread introduction of the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.
Find out if you are at risk for prostate cancer.
The causes of prostate cancer are not fully known. What research has shown is that there are three main risk factors for prostate cancer risk:
- Age - Age is the most important known risk factor for prostate cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer rises sharply after age 50, and risk doubles every ten years thereafter.
- Race - Rates for newly diagnosed cases and deaths are higher in African American men than other races.
- Family history – Men with close family members (father or brother) who have had prostate cancer are more likely to get prostate cancer themselves, especially if their relatives were young when they got the disease.
PREVENTION AND DETECTION
There is promising research that shows preventive measures and early detection screening should help reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer. However, there is no agreement on the best method of early detection. In spite of this, PSA testing and digital rectal examinations (DRE) are early detection methods that should be discussed with your medical provider.
TREATMENT
Important factors in the selection of treatment included the extent of disease, patient’s age, level of PSA and other medical illnesses. Medical providers play an important role with the patient in making decisions about treatment.
For guidelines and additional information:
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