Prostate Cancer
Risk factors
Age – Prostate cancer is rare in men under 40. About 60% of cases are found in men over age 65.
Race/Ethnicity – Prostate cancer occurs more often in African American men than in other races.
Geography – Prostate cancer is most common in North America, Northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean Islands.
Family History – Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease.
Gene Change – Several inherited gene changes may raise the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Other possible risk factors:
Diet, Obesity, Smoking, Chemical Exposures, Inflammation of the prostate, and Sexually Transmitted Infections
Early Detection
Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood. Another way to find prostate cancer early is by having a digital rectal exam (DRE) in which a doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger into the man’s rectum to feel the prostate. If either of these tests is abnormal, further testing can be done to determine if a man has cancer. Screening is important because it identifies cancer at an earlier stage, when it is more likely to be treatable.
The NJCEED program at Inspira Health offers free prostate screening for uninsured or under-insured men. Visit this page for more information: http://www.inspirahealthnetwork.org/nj-ceed
Information provided by The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) and Inspira Health Network (www.inspirahealthnetwork.org)