The exact cause of this disease has not yet been discovered. No one can explain why one man develops prostate problems along with cancer and the other man does not. Cancer cannot be caught from another person. It is not contagious. However, there are some risk factors that make it more likely for some men to develop this disease.
Age is the number one cause of prostate cancer. It is rare to find a man under the age of 40 to have the disease. The chances of that happening are 1 in 10,000! As a man grows older, his risk factors rise dramatically. Most men who develop the disease are over the age of 65.
Family history is another risk factor for prostate cancer. If a man has a father or brother who has had the disease, he is more likely to develop it. Race is another deciding factor. This dosease is found in more African-American men than white or Hispanic men. Asian and American Indian men have a smaller risk of developing this disease.
A little known risk of developing prostate cancer is men with prostate cells called (PIN) prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. These cells look abnormal under a microscope and men with these cells are considered high risk.
Diet is another factor is deciding who develops prostate cancer. Scientists have proved that those men who have diets rich in fats and red meats are more at risk of developing cancer. Men who have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to have a lower risk of developing this disease.
This is just a few of the prostate cancer risk factors but the good news is you can control some of them. Obviously you cannot control your race, or your family history and you cannot stop the aging process. You can help yourself by changing your dietary habits and taking better care of your body.
Scientists who have studied prostate cancer are looking at possible links between the disease and smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and a virus passed through sexual intercourse. All of these are being studied and with no final conclusion, at this time. Scientists are also studying a link between vasectomies and prostate cancer. At this time, this link has not been proven.
Most men who have risk factors like the ones listed above do not mean you will get prostate cancer. Men who do get this disease often do not have any risk factors except their age. One in three men are likely to develop prostate problems or cancer whether they have more than one risk factor or not.
If you think you may have a high risk for developing prostate cancer or have symptoms of the disease, you should talk with your doctor. Your doctor may suggest you see an urologist who specializes in urinary problems and problems with the male reproductive organs. They should be up-to-date with all the newest information, research, and treatment plans for thils disease.
Prostate cancer typically occurs in older men and is seldom found in men under the age of 40. It occurs in 1 out of 6 men and when confined to the gland is usually treated successfully.
RISK: Any man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Besides being male, there are a number of other factors, such as age, race, and family history that may add to your risk. Those at higher risk include African-American males past 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises with age, and 60% of newly found cases occur in men past the age of 70.
The greatest risk factor is age. This risk increases significantly after the age of 50 in white men who have no family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in black men and men who have a close relative with the disease. Having a brother with prostate cancer appears to increase your risk more than having an affected father does. That risk is even higher when there are multiple family members affected.
SYMPTOMS: May include Problems such as urinating pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling, Low back pain, Painful ejaculation. A lot of men experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Symptoms are more apt to appear as the cancer grows.
TREATMENT: May include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or control of hormones that affect the cancer. Treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. The appropriate treatment is often controversial.
Surgery is usually only recommended after a thorough evaluation and discussion of all possible treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat the ones that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Gland Removal is often recommended for treatment of stages A and B.
CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men past 75 years of age. Frequently there are no symptoms in its early stages. If it has spread, it may be treated with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the gland, or chemotherapy.
Both Verlyn Ross & Richard H Ealom are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Verlyn Ross has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Golf Guide and Other Conditions. Verlyn Ross owns and operates a website dedicated specifically to providing health and fitness information. It includes a wealth of free articles in which you may have an interest. I invite you to. Verlyn Ross's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Richard H Ealom has sinced written about articles on various topics from Types of Cancer, Woman Menopause and Bad Breath. About the author: Richard H. Ealom is an expert ezinearticles.com writer with more than 50 articles on diseases,causes,cures. To find out more about Cancer visit