Are you or the man in your life at high risk for prostate cancer? Gillette challenges you to take this quiz and find out. Check all appropriate boxes that relate to you.
Man over 50 years old
Family history of prostate cancer
African American man
Overweight or obese
If you have a check mark in any of the boxes above, talk to your doctor about your risks and need for screening. In addition, talk with your doctor to see how you may be able to prevent prostate cancer.
Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. One in every six men gets prostate cancer at some point in his lifetime.
Men under 40 have a 0.01% chance (1 in 9,876)
Men from 40 to 59 have a 2.58% chance (1 in 39)
Men from 60 to 79 have a 14.76% chance (1 in 7)
While it is rare for men under 50 to get prostate cancer, those cases tend to be more aggressive.
Researchers are uncertain why age is such a major factor. It is thought genetic damage can cause cells to become cancerous over time. Some doctors believe all men will eventually develop some prostate cancer cells.
Family History:
Compared with men who have no family history of the disease, men with a father or brother who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer have more than twice the risk of being diagnosed themselves. Men with 2 or more relatives have about 5 times the risk. Men with 3 or more relatives with the disease are almost guaranteed to get prostate cancer.
The risk is generally higher for men with affected brothers than for those with affected fathers, and for those with relatives diagnosed at younger ages. Family history of breast or ovarian cancer can also be an indicator as the diseases apparently share a common genetic mutation. Overall, only about 5-10% of all cases of prostate cancer are believed to be hereditary.
Race and Nationality:
Rates of prostate cancer in the U.S. are 65% higher among African American men, and the mortality rate is 2.5 times that of white men. Studies are being done on potential differences in physiology, diet, and access to health care.
Rates for Asian men in the U.S. are lower than average, which may be a result of traditional diets including high vegetable and soy consumption.
Although Hispanic men have a risk of getting prostate cancer similar to the general population, rates of death due to the disease have not declined over recent years as they have for Caucasian and African American men, predominantly due to cultural barriers to health care access.
Diet and Obesity:
The "Western diet," high in fat, meat, and sugar, and low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber may be one of the greatest factors contributing to prostate cancer. Studies suggest a strong relationship between consumption of saturated fat or dairy fat and prostate cancer, while polyunsaturated fats such as Omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the disease.
Obese men - those with a body mass index of over 32.5 - are 33% more likely to die from prostate cancer if diagnosed. Some studies suggest a relationship between obesity and higher risk, but it is hard to prove a direct link. Consumption of saturated fat and meat may be the determining factor, but the affect of obesity on hormone function may also play a significant role. Further studies are needed.
Researchers have found a number of food nutrients that appear to reduce the likelihood of getting cancer, including Vitamin E, selenium, soy (Isoflavones), green tea, and tomatoes (lycopene). Large studies are underway to confirm these findings, and more nutrients with cancer-fighting properties are being discovered and studied all the time.
Veterans and Chemical Exposure:
People exposed to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer.
Veterans exposed to herbicides like Agent Orange may be at higher risk of prostate cancer. One study suggested they may be 2 times as likely get it.
One pesticide, methyl bromide, has shown a clear link to increased prostate cancer among exposed farm workers.
Non-Risk Factors:
As prostate cancer is a testosterone-related disease, connections have been sought between it and sexual behavior. High testosterone levels, vasectomy, and history of frequent sexual activity have been studied, but not found to increase risk of prostate cancer. Actually, early studies have suggested that ejaculation 3 times a week may decrease your level of risk by 15%.
An enlarged prostate (BPH) or prostatitis may cause symptoms similar to those of advanced prostate cancer, but they do not themselves increase the risk of getting the disease, as opposed to HGPIN, a precancerous condition that is related to cancer risk.
Smoking does not increase the risk of prostate cancer, though it most certainly does increase the risk of heart disease and lung cancer, the number one cause of cancer-related death for men.
There are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages. In order to find prostate cancer in its most treatable form, it must be caught before symptoms appear. In more advanced stages, symptoms may include difficult or frequent urination, blood in the urine, or bone pain.
Symptoms should be reported to your doctor, who will then determine if you need to see a urologist. Any change in the quality or quantity of semen, pain on ejaculation, loss of potency or libido should be reported to your primary care doctor. It is also good to report frequent urination at night, difficulty starting or incomplete urinating.
