Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It is a cancer that occurs in the prostate, a small round gland near the bladder.
Prostate cancer can occur at any age, but it most often occurs in men older than age 65. Other factors are a family history of prostate cancer, your race and being overweight. Prostate cancer occurs in African-American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry more often than in men of other races.
You can lower your risk with these healthy choices:
- Eat low-fat foods.
- Use fats from plant sources like olive oil instead of animal fats.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Eat fatty fish like salmon, tuna and herring.
Also, make sure you exercise most days of the week and keep a healthy weight.
For those with a higher chance of getting the disease, there may be other choices to lower your risk. Talk to your doctor.
Prostate cancer can be treated with great success if caught early. Men who start treatment before the cancer cells have spread outside the prostate gland have a five-year survival rate of close to 99%.
Sources: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Mayo Clinic and The Prostate Cancer Foundation