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Nine of the Most Frequently Asked
Prostate Cancer Questions and Answers

"How Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer?"

Prostate cancer ranks high on the list of most problematic cancers men face. It may not have the cachet, awareness or following breast cancer does. But increased awareness of prostate cancer is much needed. To that end here are nine common prostate cancer questions and answers.

QUESTION: What is prostate cancer?
ANSWER: Like most cancers it's a malignant growth of cells only in your prostate.

QUESTION: Who is at the most risk of getting the prostate cancer?
ANSWER: Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer in males over 50. Lung cancer beats it. It occurs at higher rates in Western countries than in like China or Japan. Information about race, family history, age and overall health all play a role in risk assessment. For instance African-American males are at higher risk. Those with a family history (think father or brother) of the disease are as well. The cancer is also believed to be triggered by a high fat diet. The higher the amount of fat the greater the chances of this cancer developing.

Prostate Fact: Somewhere between 3 to 5 percent of men suffering from prostate cancer die from the disease.

QUESTION: How is the prostate cancer diagnosed?
ANSWER: There are various tests to screen for it.

QUESTION: What does the screening involve?
ANSWER: Typically your doctor will do a DRE (digital rectal exam - takes less than 30 seconds - uncomfortable not painful) and a PSA blood test. In tandem these can detect cancer tumors so you can start early treatment - when you have the most options to choose from.

But on the flip side, you should know these tests do not guarantee increased life expectancy or decreased mortality.

QUESTION: When should men start to be screened for the prostate cancer?
ANSWER: Actually this is still a debatable topic. Here's what the experts say.

The American Cancer Society recommends healthy men start annual screenings at age 50. The American Urological Association just updated their guidelines in 2009. They now say start PSA testing when you hit 40. Others advise only those with the risk factors start that soon. Real clear, huh?

QUESTION: What's with the PSA test? I've heard it can be unreliable.
ANSWER: If you're asking if you should get it I can't say - in your case. Given the dust up about how reliable a predictor the PSA test is, seems the experts tend to want to fall back on ole "it's an individual thing" reply. Which is true. It is.

The thing to keep in mind however is that at this point there is no way to tell if given guy's cancer is going to turn out to be particularly aggressive or not. Yes only a small percent die from this. But the only way to get a clue about how virulent the cancer is in a specific case is with a biopsy triggered by high PSA test results.

Sure you can skip the test because you don't like the rate of false positives. But in the opinion of many it's a roll of the dice if you do. As you may develop cancer yet display none of the symptoms or signs.

Prostate Fact: Screening takes about 10 minutes.

QUESTION: A friend had a biopsy. It doesn't exactly sound like fun. What's involved again?
ANSWER: The biopsy is a rather simple and safe procedure. Thin needles are inserted by a device (that will remind you of a DRE) through your rectum into previously mapped locations in the prostate. Usually only 12-20 samples or cores of prostate cells are taken. This test can detect the grade and give a feel as to the amount of cancer, if any, is present. Interestingly a biopsy never returns a false positive. However false negatives are possible if the samples are taken from areas free of cancer cells. This is more apt to happen if the prostate is small. But occurs between 25-30% of the time.

QUESTION: What are the treatments available for the prostate cancer?
ANSWER: Due to continued research doctors have a variety of treatments including surgery, radiation, heat therapy, chemotherapy, drugs such as Proscar, and hormone therapy to pick from. One or a combination of these treatments is used based in part on the stage of the cancer and how much it has spread. Surgery has a better recovery rate but has unpleasant side-effects like impotency and incontinence.

Prostate Fact: For those whose cancer is caught while still contained within the prostate the prognosis is a nearly 100% five-year survival rate.

QUESTION: Can one reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer through diet?
ANSWER: Maybe. Or maybe not. This gets to the "How Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer?" question if only just briefly. But eating a diet rich in zinc, lycopene, essential fatty acids, omega 3 oils are believed to improve your odds keeping cancer from developing. Watermelon, tomatoes and fruits red in color are generally rich in lycopene and should be found on your plate regularly. Or drink V8. Fish, flaxseed oil are also rich in essential fatty acids.

Obviously this quick look at commonly asked prostate cancer questions and answers is no substitute for a face to face discussion of your options with your doctor. But hopefully you are a bit better informed and more comfortable about what's involved.