You Can Beat Prostate Cancer - Mythbusting Facts

Understanding Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime. Despite how common it is, there remains a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding this disease.

Who is at Risk for Prostate Cancer?

There are several risk factors that can increase a man's chance of developing prostate cancer:

• Age - Risk increases drastically after age 50
• Family history - Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles your risk
• Race - African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer
• Diet - Eating more red meat and high-fat dairy may increase risk

Getting Tested for Prostate Cancer

There are several different tests that doctors use to screen for prostate cancer. Two of the most common are:

• PSA Test - Measures levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood
• DRE - Digital rectal exam where the doctor feels the prostate for abnormalities

Based on your test results and risk factors, your doctor may recommend additional testing like an MRI or prostate biopsy to confirm diagnosis.

9 Common Myths and Misconceptions

Despite how often it occurs, there remains a lot of confusion regarding prostate cancer risks, screening, and treatment. Here we'll tackle some of the most common prostate cancer myths:

Myth #1: Prostate Cancer is an Older Man's Disease

While it's true that prostate cancer risk increases with age, younger men are still at risk. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed by age 60. So it's important for men to be aware of their risk early on.

Myth #2: You Can't Die from Prostate Cancer

This myth probably persists because prostate cancer tends to grow very slowly. However, given enough time to progress, prostate cancer cells can metastasize elsewhere in the body and turn deadly. That said, early screening and detection greatly improves outcomes.

Myth #3: An Enlarged Prostate Means You Have Cancer

An enlarged prostate, known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is not necessarily a sign of cancer. In fact, BPH is very common in older men and does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. However, BPH symptoms can sometimes mirror prostate cancer symptoms, making testing important.

Myth #4: Eating Tomatoes and Spinach Lowers Your Risk

Some early research indicated that tomatoes, spinach and other foods high in certain antioxidants might lower prostate cancer risk. But larger studies found no clear link between increased consumption of these antioxidant-rich foods and lower prostate cancer rates.

Myth #5: Vasectomy Causes Prostate Cancer

Getting a vasectomy, a surgery which cuts the tubes that carry sperm, does not increase your chance of developing prostate cancer. Research confirmsthere is no link between this common form of male contraception and cancer risk.

Myth #6: Frequent Sex Causes Prostate Cancer

For years there was a stigma that high sexual activity or masturbation increased cancer risk. But current research has found no evidence that frequency of sexual activity influences prostate cancer rates in men.

Myth #7: Owning a Dog Lowers Your Risk

A few speculative studies showed a slight correlation between dog ownership and lower prostate cancer rates. However, these findings have not been confirmed by higher quality randomized studies. There is likely no harm in owning a dog, but no strong evidence it will influence your cancer risk.

Myth #8 Prostate Cancer is Always Aggressive

Prostate cancer spans a broad spectrum of aggressiveness. Many prostate tumors grow extremely slowly and never cause harm or require treatment in a man's lifetime. However, there are also fast-growing cancer cells that can metastasize quickly - early screening identifies which tumors may be more aggressive.

Myth #9: Family History Means You'll Get Prostate Cancer

While having close male relatives with prostate cancer does increase your risk, it is still only by a factor of two (a 100% increase). Genetics and chance both influence cancer development, so family history alone does not guarantee you'll end up with prostate cancer later in life.

Take Control with Regular Screening

Debunking these common myths is the first step in taking control of your prostate health. That combined with getting regular prostate exams and PSA tests (if you are high risk) offers the best chance to catch potential prostate cancer early.

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, being informed and actively involved with your doctors provides the greatest chance of successful treatment. There are many great medical centers and resources to assist you through every step of the process.

Early screening and medical technology improvements also mean most prostate cancers today have very high survival rates. By staying on top of your health, the odds are now better than ever that you can beat prostate cancer.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.