Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men in the United States. One in six men will become diagnosed in their lifetime. With so many men and their families being touched by this disease, you need to ask yourself: Am I at risk?

“Discuss your individual risk profile with your doctor so you can develop the best approach to protect yourself,” says Thomas Will, MD, a urologist with Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals. Certain factors elevate a man’s risk for prostate cancer, including:

1. Family history – If your father or brother has prostate cancer, you’re twice as likely to develop it yourself, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
2. Age – Your risk of developing prostate cancer increases as you age. Although prostate cancer affects one in 10,000 men under age 40, one in 15 men ages 60 to 69 are affected.
3. Ethnicity – If you’re African American, you’re part of the most at-risk group. African Americans are 60 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasians.
4. Chronic inflammation of the prostate – Studies suggest there may be a link between men whose prostates are chronically inflamed (a condition known as prostatitis) and prostate cancer.
5. Diet – Research also shows that a high-fat or low-vegetable diet may increase your risk.

Don’t wait for symptoms
Prostate cancer is rarely symptomatic until it is in its advanced stages. However, possible symptoms include:

• Difficulty urinating or decreased flow of urine
• Painful or burning urination
• Difficulty with erectile function
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or thighs

Discuss your prostate health with your doctor to assess your risk for prostate cancer and determine a prevention plan. “Don’t wait until you have symptoms to think about screening for prostate cancer,” Dr. Will says.

Individualized screening plans
At Adventist Midwest Health, patients can receive a comprehensive prostate cancer screening that includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam. PSA is an enzyme produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels in the blood can indicate the presence of cancer, an infection or another prostate condition. The digital rectal exam checks the outer portion of the prostate gland for nodules or abnormal growths. “If we find elevated PSA levels or areas of irregularity on the exam, the next step is often a biopsy,” Dr. Will says.

New guidelines are changing when men should start getting screened for prostate cancer. According to the American Urological Association, early detection screenings should be considered at age 40. This is 10 years earlier than the previous screening recommendation of age 50 for men without risk factors. Getting the PSA completed earlier lets doctors know what your baseline PSA is and can give them an individualized number to compare future levels against. “Ultimately, it’s up to the patient and their physician to determine when and how often they should be screened,” Dr. Will says. “Adventist Midwest Health does a great job of addressing each patient individually and offering comprehensive therapeutic options if cancer is found.”

When it comes to preventing prostate cancer, Dr. Will says keeping open communication with your doctor is just as important as exercising and eating a healthy diet. “Don’t be afraid to discuss prostate health with your doctor,” he says. “That’s the first step in detecting prostate cancer.”

For more information or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.