Watching for Signs of Prostate Cancer Imperative in Detection

Online, July 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Ensuring that a man is taking an active role in prostate health is an important aspect of his overall well-being. According to Breanna Veal, a Physician Assistant at Walden Ponds Primary Care part of Premier HealthNet, one of the biggest health concerns for men is determining the age that a man needs to be screened for prostate cancer.

"Prostate screenings depend on the background of the individual. The three major risk factors for prostate cancer are age, family history and race. If there is a family history with prostate cancer the screening recommendation is 40 to 42 years old. If you're African American, the screening recommendation is 40 to 45 years old. Otherwise the screening begins at age 50." Veal encourages men to consult with their primary care physician on when to screen based on their medical history and lifestyle habits.

According to Veal, it is believed that certain lifestyle habits may cause an increased risk for prostate cancer. "There's no known cause of prostate cancer, but studies from The Journal of the National Cancer Institute have shown that a diet high in animal fat is a risk to getting prostate cancer. Being obese, having a recurrence of prostate infections or having recurrent STDs may cause prostate cancer." She suggests that in order to improve prostate health men eat a diet low in fat, eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly.

Although most common in men over 50, Veal says that prostate health is something men of all ages should be aware. "Because the recurrence of trichomonas infection, which is a sexually transmitted disease, is a possible cause for prostate cancer, it's definitely relevant to younger men as well." She shares that young men need to protect themselves from infection and goes on to say, "They need to be involved and know their family medical history. They need to find out if anyone has had prostate cancer earlier rather than later."

Veal shares that it's important to know that, in general, because of the fairly slow growth of prostate cancer, most men will not die from prostate cancer. However, other significant medical issues can occur, so being aware of how the prostate is functioning is highly important. "Decreased urinary stream, problems urinating, the sensation of not being able to empty the bladder completely, dribbling after urination, urinating twice within two hours, back pain and waking up at night to urinate are all signs that something could be wrong."

Prostate cancer is not the only issue that men may face when concerned with prostate health. "There are other things related to prostate health besides prostate cancer, such as prostatitis, which is either an infection or an inflammatory process of the prostate gland," said Veal.

In order to stay on top of prostate health Veal recommends that men visit their primary care physician annually to discuss their overall health and medical history, and to engage in a conversation with their primary care physician on whether the individual would benefit from prostate screenings.

To find a Premier HealthNet primary care physician near you, visit www.premierhealthnet.com/doctor.