BY VIC LIENGSWANGWONG, MD

Nearly 165,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, according to the American Cancer

Vic Liengswangwong, M.D.

Society. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men; and while some types grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

Here are five things men need to know about prostate cancer:

1. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease.

2. Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than age 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50.

3. Prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men than in other ethnicities. African-American men are also more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer than Caucasian men.

4. Prostate cancer can often be found before symptoms start by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood.

5. To lower the risk of cancer, including prostate cancer, men should focus on eating a diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats and non-meat protein sources such as nuts and beans.

When found early, prostate cancer is very curable, but when found late – it often cannot be cured.
Bottom line – talk to your physician. Together, you can review your risk factors, discuss any concerns, and determine if/when is the best time to begin prostate screenings.
Vic Liengswangwong, M.D. is a Radiation Oncologist on staff at the James Beck Cancer Center at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander. For more information, please call 715-361-2140 or visit ascension.org\Wisconsin.