The prostate gland is located just below the bladder in men and surrounds the top portion of the tube that drains urine from the bladder (urethra).
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors:
- Age: Men older than 50 years old
- Family history: Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles the risk of developing this disease
- Gene mutations
Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. However, advanced prostate cancer can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:
- Slow or weak urinary flow
- Blood in the urine
- Feeling that the bladder is not fully emptied after urination
Follow up with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms.
How to lower your risk of prostate cancer?
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay physically active
- Follow a healthy eating pattern, which includes a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains
- Limit red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and highly processed foods
When should you start screening for prostate cancer?
General guidelines recommend starting at the age of 55. However, you may need to start screening earlier between the ages of 40 and 54 if you have father or brother who has had prostate cancer.
References
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer
Lucy E., Rachel E. Perry, Verity A. Leach. A systematic review of dietary, nutritional, and physical activity interventions for the prevention of prostate cancer progression and mortality. Pages 1521–1550 (2015). doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0659-4