PROSTATE CANCER
PREVENTION |
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No preventive measures are known.
Adopting a vegetarian, low-fat diet or one that mimics the
traditional Japanese diet may lower risk. Early identification (as
opposed to prevention) is now possible by yearly screening of men
over 40 or 50 years old through digital rectal examination (DRE) and
PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test.
There is a debate however as to whether PSA testing should be done
in all men. There are several potential downsides to PSA testing.
The first is that elevated PSAs do not always mean a patient has
prostate cancer. The second is that physicians may be detecting and
treating some very early stage prostate cancers that would never
have caused the patient any harm. The decision about whether to
pursue a PSA should be based on a discussion between patient and
physician.
Each September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Several urology
centers across the country hold screening clinics that provide free
rectal exams and PSA blood testing. Contact a hospital or medical
center in your area for information on their program for Prostate
Cancer Awareness. |
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| PROSTATE CANCER RELATED ITEMS |
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