Three Essential Questions About Prostate Cancer

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American Cancer Society Encourages Men to Know the Facts as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Begins

New York City - Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men, but when detected at a local or regional stage, 5 year survival rates are 100 percent. Unfortunately unlike screening guidelines for some other cancers there is no clear cut “getting screened beginning at 40” message for men. While many questions surround the lifesaving benefits of available tests, it’s vital for men to understand the importance of discussing the risks and benefits of prostate cancer testing with their health care professional.

September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, is the time for men to talk with their health care provider about this disease so they can make informed decisions about prostate health.

3 questions every man should ask his health care professional about prostate cancer:

1. Am I at risk for prostate cancer?
Several factors, such as age, race, nationality, diet, physical activity and family history are consistently associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition, African-American men are nearly twice as likely to develop prostate cancer than other American men. The American Cancer Society encourages men to talk to their health care professional to learn about this disease, find out if they fall within a high-risk group, and discuss whether prostate cancer testing is right for them.

2. Should I be tested for prostate cancer?
The American Cancer Society recommends that men have the opportunity to make an informed decision with their health care professional about screening for prostate cancer after receiving information about the uncertainties, risk, and potential benefits associated with screening. Men at average risk should start talking to their health care professional beginning at age 50. Men at higher risk, including African-Americans, should talk to their doctor about prostate testing at age 45. For men who’ve had a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer, the discussion should happen at age 40. Information about prostate cancer can be found on the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/prostatecancer or by calling 1-800-227-2345.

3. If I choose to be tested, what tests are available?
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal exam (DRE) are commonly used methods to detect prostate cancer. The PSA blood test measures a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen – the higher the level, the more likely cancer is present. DRE involves inserting a rubber-gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for lumps or enlargement of the prostate.

More prostate cancer facts:

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer (excluding skin cancer) among men.

• About 240,890 new prostate cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2011. The good news is the vast majority of those men will die with the disease, not of the disease. The five-year relative survival rate for men with localized prostate cancer (cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland) is near 100 percent. Ninety-one percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive 10 years and 76 percent survive 15 years. The bad news is that more than 33,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year.

• While we do not yet know exactly what causes prostate cancer, we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Though researchers have identified some risk factors and are making progress toward understanding how these factors cause cells in the prostate gland to become cancerous.

• Evidence exists that development of prostate cancer is linked to increased levels of certain hormones. It is thought that high levels of androgens (male hormones) may contribute to prostate cancer risk in some men. Also it is caused by changes in the DNA of a prostate cancer cell. DNA makes up our genes, which control how cells behave. This year the American Cancer Society is dedicating more than $55 million in prostate cancer research grants.

• Because the exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, we are not certain how to prevent most cases of the disease. Risk factors such as age, race and family history are beyond a man's control. One possible risk factor that can be changed is diet. A diet high in animal fat (dairy and meat) seems to increase the risk of prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends a diet low in fat and consisting mostly of vegetables, fruits and grains.

Additional Resources
American Cancer Society Guide to Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Video Gallery
Prostate Cancer Treatment Decision Tool

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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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