What Men Need to Know About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, second only to skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. When found early, prostate cancer is very curable, but when found late – it often cannot be cured.

When considering prostate cancer screenings, Dr. Paul Chuba, radiation oncologist and prostate cancer specialist with Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren, recommends men talk to their doctor to determine if they should be screened for prostate cancer.

“There are two main screening tests for prostate cancer – the PSA blood test and the digital rectal exam. If your test results are abnormal, your doctor will do a prostate biopsy to determine the root cause,” says Dr. Chuba.

Dr. Chuba says your physician will make a recommendation on what screening is best for you based on two things – your age and your risk factors. Some it’s as young as 40, others it isn’t until age 50. He says African-American men and men who have a father, brother, or son diagnosed with prostate cancer younger than age 65 are at higher risk. He says knowing your risk factors and family history will help you and your doctor determine the best preventive methods.

“To lower the risk of cancer, including prostate cancer, men should focus on eating a diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats and non-meat protein sources such as nuts and beans,” according to Dr. Chuba.

For more information about prostate cancer, contact an Ascension hospital in Southeast Michigan by calling 1-866-501-(DOCS) 3627.