Prostate cancer. The very words send a chill through most men. Yet too few really understand the disease and what can be done to diagnose, prevent and treat it.

“Prostate cancer begins in the cells of the prostate gland and can spread to other parts of the body, including the bladder, rectum and bone,” explains Dr. James Brown, a urologic oncologist at MCG Health System.

Some of the leading risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• Age. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age.
• Diet. Some studies have found that a diet high in animal fat may increase a man’s risk for developing prostate cancer, while a diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk.
• Heredity. If a man's father or an older sibling has had prostate cancer, he is at increased risk. Also, African-American men are at increased risk.

There is no clear cause for prostate cancer. However, experts believe that you can reduce your risk for many types of cancer by:

• Not smoking
• Eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet
• Getting plenty of exercise

Prostate cancer may initially present with no symptoms. In fact, by the time symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced. This is why an annual digital rectal exam and a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test are recommended for men 50 and older to check for signs of prostate cancer. African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer are recommended to begin prostate cancer checks at age 40.

Thanks to advances in treatment techniques, a cure is possible for a large percentage of men with the disease. Treatments include:

• Prostate removal, via traditional or laparoscopic methods
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Investigational therapies such as cryotherapy
• Hormone therapy

Remember, awareness of the risk factors and the importance of annual checkups can help decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations -- MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians and faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the Physicians Practice Group, not employees of MCG Health Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the Physicians Practice Group and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.