Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer runs in some families, so your family history can be a risk factor.

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease. It doesn’t mean you will get it, but it does mean you may be more likely to get it than the average person.

Other risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• Race: African-American men have a higher-than-average risk for getting prostate cancer.
• Age: Your chance of getting prostate cancer goes up after age 50.

Some other possible risk factors that have been studied include diet, smoking, and obesity, but it’s not clear whether any of these definitely increase your risk for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is less common in people who eat a vegetarian diet.

Your doctor will discuss your medical history with you, including your symptoms, any problems you’ve had urinating or while having sex, and your family medical history.

Doctors also use two common tests to check for signs of prostate cancer:

• Digital rectal exam: The doctor feels your prostate gland for any lumps. This is done by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test: PSA is a protein produced by your prostate. If the level of PSA in your blood is high, that could be a sign of prostate cancer.

If your doctor finds more signs of prostate cancer from these tests, you also may undergo a biopsy, which is surgery to remove a tiny piece of tissue from your prostate that can be examined closely in a lab.

Surgery is a common treatment option for prostate cancer that is in its early stages or has not spread into other parts of the body. Usually the prostate is removed in a procedure called radical prostatectomy.

Other possible prostate cancer treatment options include:

• Radiation therapy: A beam of radiation is directed at the prostate to kill cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: A male hormone called androgen helps prostate cancer cells grown. Hormone therapy decreases your level of androgen. This is done with a drug or by removing the testicles.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may be used if hormone therapy isn’t working.
• Vaccine: A vaccine that contains your own white blood cells can be used to train your immune system to kill cancer cells.

For some patients whose prostate cancer is small and growing very slowly, doctors may use an approach called observation, watchful waiting, or active surveillance. This is sometimes used for men who are older or not healthy enough to get treatment and whose prostate cancer is small enough that it’s not an immediate threat to their overall health.