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No preventive measures are known. Adopting a vegetarian, low-fat diet or one that mimics the traditional Japanese diet may lower risk. Early identification (as opposed to prevention) is now possible by yearly screening of men over 40 or 50 years old through digital rectal examination (DRE) and PSA blood test.
There is a debate, however, as to whether PSA testing should be done in all men. There are several potential downsides to PSA testing. The first is that elevated PSAs do not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. The second is that physicians are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA should be based on a discussion between patient and physician.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the US. Several urology centers across the country hold screening clinics that provide free rectal exams and PSA blood testing. Contact a hospital or medical center in your area for information on its program for prostate cancer awareness.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting your local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
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