Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men across Idaho and throughout the United States. Men of any age can develop prostate cancer, no matter their health or fitness. But, in general, most prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65, with risk typically increasing with age. Fortunately, unlike many other kinds of cancer, prostate cancer tends to be responsive to treatment, especially if it’s caught at an early stage.
You can’t always beat the odds, but you can take certain measures to lower your own risk: contact Core Medicine of Idaho today to request an appointment and find out how you could benefit from a men’s health screening.
Prostate Cancer
The prostate is the small gland below your bladder. It helps produce semen and can affect fertility and the reproductive system. Only people who were born biologically male have a prostate. Prostates usually grow larger over time, which is ordinary and expected in older men.
Prostate cancer is a malignant illness that develops in the prostate. It is one of the most common types of cancers nationwide, with more men being diagnosed with prostate cancer annually than any other kind of cancer. Prostate cancer can typically be managed and cured, especially if it is diagnosed at any early stage.
Just because prostate cancer is highly treatable doesn’t mean its risks should be dismissed. Men who have prostate cancer may experience side effects during treatment and sometimes struggle with incontinence and erectile dysfunction, even after their cancer has been removed.
Understand Your Risk Factors
The most prominent risk factor for prostate cancer is age, with at least 60% of cases diagnosed in men over the age of 65. However, younger men can develop prostate cancer, too. Medical professionals often define prostate cancer diagnosed in men under the age of 55 as “early onset” prostate cancer. At least 10% of all prostate cancer diagnoses fit into this latter category.
Age isn’t the only risk factor for prostate cancer. Other risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Ethnicity. Almost every man faces some risk for prostate cancer, but, in the United States, more cases are diagnosed in African-American men than in any other racial or ethnic group.
- Your family history. Under most circumstances, your risk for developing a certain type of cancer is influenced by your family’s health history and your inherited genetics. If you have a close relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer—a father, brother, or grandparent—you could be at greater risk.
- Your lifestyle and health. A combination of factors, like your lifestyle and health, can have a significant impact on your susceptibility to different illnesses, including prostate cancer. Smokers, along with men who are obese or overweight, have a higher risk of prostate cancer than non-smokers and men with lower percentages of body fat.
Understanding your risk factors and taking them seriously is essential to minimizing your chances of developing prostate cancer. However, men with early-stage prostate cancer often experience no symptoms and would have no way of knowing that they are hosting a malignant illness without a screening.
Lowering Your Risk of Prostate Cancer with a Men’s Health Screening
Medical professionals use the term “screening” to describe tests designed to detect cancer in people who haven’t exhibited any symptoms and wouldn’t otherwise have reason to believe that their life could be in danger. Screening tests can be considered a form of preventative medicine, as early-stage prostate cancer tends to be easier to treat than late-stage prostate cancer.
As a general rule, men should become more proactive about their prostate health as they grow older. Some important milestones include:
- Age 40 for men with the highest risk for prostate cancer. In this context, “highest risk” refers to men who have a family history of prostate cancer and men who carry certain inherited genetic traits.
- Age 45 for men who have a high risk for prostate cancer. This usually includes all African-American men and any man, of any race, who has a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65.
- Age 50 for men with an average risk of prostate cancer and who are in generally good health.
Most men should have their first prostate exam no later than their 50th birthday.
Contrary to popular misconception, not all screenings take the form of what are termed “digital rectal exams,” or DREs. Many men can also submit blood samples, which are carefully analyzed to detect prostate-specific cancer cells. In either case, your health care team can likely help you assess your overall risk and provide recommendations on how often you need screenings.
How Core Medicine of Idaho Could Help
You don’t have to choose between your health and your bank account.
At Core of Medicine of Idaho, we prioritize offering fast, wait-free service at a price often lower than the cost of going to a big hospital in Boise. We could help you understand your personal risk for prostate cancer, analyze your samples in our in-house laboratory, and give you the tools you need to stay on top of your health. And, unlike the emergency room, you don’t have to wait at our Caldwell clinic—in most cases, you can walk right in and see a provider without spending your entire day waiting in line.