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Cancer Services
PREVENTION While nothing guarantees that you don’t develop cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and stay healthy. - Make healthy food choices
- Eat foods high in fiber – Try to increase the amount of fiber in your diet to between 20 and 30 grams daily. High-fiber foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Limit processed foods, sweets and salt.
- Avoid foods high in saturated fats.
- Eat 5 of more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
- Choose foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Don’t overeat. Watch portion size and calories.
- Limit sweets.
- Limit alcohol consumption. Limit the amount of alcohol – wine, beer or mixed drinks – to less than one drink per day, or avoid it completely.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Engage in regular physical activity, preferably 45 to 60 minutes five days per week.
- Don’t smoke.
- Get regular check-ups and talk to your doctor about regular cancer screenings.
Back to top SYMPTOMS While men whose prostate cancer is found early may not experience symptoms, there are some warning signs. Some of these symptoms may also be indicators of other diseases, so talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual. - Burning or pain during urination
- Inability to urinate
- Weak urine stream
- Difficulty starting urination
- Intermittent urine flow
- Frequent urination at night
- Sensation that the bladder doesn’t completely empty
- Blood in the urine
- Pain in lower pelvic area, back, hips or other bony areas
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
Back to top RISK FACTORS Talk to your doctor about your risk. - Age – Risk increases rapidly after age 50 in white men with no family history of prostate cancer, and after age 40 in African-American men who have a close relative with prostate cancer.
- Race – African-American men are at the highest risk, while white men are at medium risk for developing prostate cancer.
- Family history – Having a father or brother with prostate cancer can dramatically increase your risk.
SCREENING TESTS When the prostate cancer is discovered early, nearly 100 percent survive. Screening is essential in finding breast cancer in this treatable stage, before symptoms are felt. The American Cancer Society believes that the PSA blood test and DRE (digital rectal exam) should be offered yearly, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk should begin testing at age 45. Men at high risk include African Americans and others with a close relative (father, brother, or son) with prostate cancer should begin testing at age 45. Talk to you doctor about your risk and what type of screening is right for you. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. PSA is released into a man's blood by his prostate gland. PSA levels are detected by drawing a blood sample. Normal PSA levels vary by age. Make sure to discuss all results with your physician. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
A digital (finger) rectal examination is done to check for abnormalities of organs or other structures in the pelvis and lower abdomen. During the examination, a health professional inserts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum and may use the other hand to press on the lower abdomen or pelvic area. Prostate Biopsy
During this procedure, tissue is taken from your prostate and examined under a microscope. While the other exams and tests can give clues that you may have prostate cancer, only a prostate biopsy can tell for sure.
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