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15 Facts On Prostate Cancer
Which You Should Be Aware Of

Must Read: Interesting Facts About Prostate Cancer

Fact is prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting American men after skin cancer.

Though this disease afflicts only males and is a slow growing cancer, approximately 28,000 men needlessly die from this disease every year. So it is not something to be taken lightly.

This is also why proactive screening is vitally important.

Even if you feel fine and have no signs or symptoms you are dealing with.

Even though you aren't delighted with the prospect of "enduring" what's involved. (If it helps, do you think your doctor approaches a DRE with undiluted pleasure?)

And even though a biopsy is the only surefire way to detect the presence of this cancer.

15 Little Known Prostate Cancer Facts

• The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. Men under 50 are at a lower risk. But this risk increases 2-3 times if you have a close relative or a family member diagnosed with prostate cancer.

• Fewer than 20% will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Or about one of every six men. Of those just one in 33 will die of the disease.

• Survival rates are decent. 96% of those diagnosed live at least five years longer. While up to 75% survive at least 10 years.

• An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean it is cancerous. BPH or an enlarged prostate is not malignant and generally occurs in men as they age. A biopsy will confirm whether one has cancer or BPH.

• People from Asia are at lower risk when compared to European men and West African men and black men from Caribbean are more at risk then others.

• Some believe that the East Asian diet, which focuses more on green tea and soy products, has something to do with their lower rates of prostate cancer. Soy products eaten include tofu, soy milk etc. They also drink plenty of green tea which is rich in antioxidants.

• While on the topic of diet, lycopene found in tomatoes and tomato based products like tomato sauce, also reduces the risk of this cancer.

• Obesity and a high Body Mass Index (BMI) reading also significantly increase the cancer risks. It is also felt that consumption of fats from red and processed meats does too.

• Sexually transmitted diseases and prostatitis can also increase the cancer risks.

• Rapidly rising PSA levels can signal a particularly aggressive cancer.

• A high level of sex hormones increases the chances of cancer. Prostate cancer is dependent on the male hormone testosterone and androgen. Hormone therapy cuts these down which works to shrink prostate tumors.

• Robotics surgery, like the da Vinci system, is minimally invasive and ultra high tech. Most feel it is a less painful option for removing malignant prostate cancers when compared to conventional surgery. It results in the removal of the affected tissue by making small incisions or "ports" through which the surgical instruments are inserted. Rather than 4 to 7 inch cuts as in traditional surgery. As you would imagine, smaller incisions speeds recovery time

• Depending on how old you are when diagnosed, it is felt by some that active surveillance or what is termed "watchful waiting" is a better treatment option than either surgery or radiation. While an ongoing debate for sure there's no recovery period to deal with. But again going this route definitely depends on factors like age and the stage of cancer development.

• If the cancer is detected when localized to the gland itself then the prognosis is very good. In that case the rate of survival is more than 5 years. Plus you have more treatment options leading to fewer long term side affects. But once the disease has spread to other parts of the body then the long term rate of survival decreases to less than 30%.

With a wide range of treatments available there is always hope of course. But your prostate is not something to ignore. Once you've turned 40 you need to be vigilant, become educated and get your annual prostate screenings. Plus I would hope it's obvious that reading a web page like this one is no substitute for a consultation with your physician.