Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. The more you know about prostate cancer, the better prepared you’ll be to protect yourself and work with your doctor to detect early signs of cancer. Here are the facts:
- 1 in 7 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- 1 in 36 men will die of prostate cancer.
- Prostate cancer is nearly 100% survivable if caught early.
- Nearly 29,480 men will die needlessly of prostate cancer this year.
Risk Factors
Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age.
Race: African American men are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with and die from prostate cancer.
Family History: Men with a father or brother with prostate cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease.
Diet: Studies indicate there may be a link between diet and the cause or prevention of prostate cancer.
Chemical Exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer. Veterans who were exposed to the defoliate Agent Orange are 49% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Firefighters: Recent studies show that firefighters are at a 1.28 times greater risk to develop prostate cancer compared to the general population.
Who Should Get a Screening
All men over the age of 40 should talk with their doctor about getting screened for prostate cancer — especially those who have any of the above risk factors.
Contact your doctor to see if a prostate screening is right for you. Looking for a primary care doctor? Find a doctor, schedule online or call (816) 271-6000 to make an appointment at Mosaic Life Care.
Contact Us
If you have been recently diagnosed with cancer, contact us at (816) 271-1301 to schedule an appointment in any of our four locations.
