Prostate Cancer

The Facts

Prostate Cancer is the second leading cancer killer of American men. Approximately 30,350 men will die from the disease in the year 2005 and more then 232,090 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed. Prostate cancer, which tends to strike later in life, often grows slowly. Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms.

Who is at Risk?

Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men older then 50, and while 75 percent of all prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, some young men are at increases risk too. You are at a greater risk if you have a strong family history of the disease, are an African American man, or consume a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables.

The Best Defense: Prevention & Detection

Your doctor can check you for prostate cancer with two tests, a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer:

• Age 40 and over: digital rectal exam every year
• Age 50 and older: digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test every year.

 

St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center
Southwest Healthcare Services
West River Health Services
ND Department of Health
ND Cancer Coalition
North Dakota Cancer Coalition
Go Red ND
American Heart Association
MyPyramid.gov
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
American Institute for Cancer Research
Kids a Cookin'