Prostate Cancer: Men, know your risk factors
Did you know that prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men, behind only skin cancer?
Prostate cancer is formed by abnormal cells that grow in the tissues of the prostate gland, part of the male reproductive system.
The prostate gland sits below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that in 2010 there will be almost 218,000 new cases of prostate cancer and more than 32,000 men will die from the disease.
While prostate cancer usually occurs in men older than 65, there are certain risk factors that men of any age should be aware of and should discuss with their health care provid-ers. They are:
- Family history: A man’s risk is higher if his father, brother, or son had prostate cancer.
- Race: Prostate cancer is more common among African-American men than white or His-panic/Latino men.
- Certain prostate changes: Men with cells called high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neo-plasia (PIN) may be at increased risk of prostate cancer. These prostate cells look abnor-mal under a microscope.
- Certain chromosome or gene changes: Researchers have found that genetic changes in specific regions on certain chromosomes or in certain genes are linked to the risk of pros-tate cancer.
Having a risk factor doesn't mean you will develop prostate cancer. Most men who have risk factors never develop the disease.
