Prostate Cancer Risk Factors and Screening: What Every Man Should Know

Know Your Risk for Prostate Cancer

Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40. The chance of developing prostate cancer rises sharply after age 50 with about 6 in10 prostate cancers found in men older than 65.

Race/Ethnicity: Prostate cancer develops more often in African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. When it does develop in these men, they tend to be younger. Prostate cancer occurs less in Asian American, Hispanic and Latino men than in non-Hispanic White men. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.

Family History: Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those who have a father with it). The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young when the cancer was found.

Understand your risk and talk with your doctor about prostate cancer screening.

Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.

• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first degree relative (father, brother or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).

• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at at an early age).

And if no prostate cancer has been found as a result of a screening, the time between future screenings should be every 2 years with a PSA less than 2.5 and every year with a PSA of 2.5 or higher.

If you don't have a doctor or would like more information, call: 985.493.4008.

Recommendations according to the American Cancer Society.