IMRT & Prostate Cancer High Dose Radiation Therapy
Who
is at risk for prostate cancer?
All men are at risk. The most common risk factor is age. More
than 70 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year are over
the age of 65. African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer
than white men. Dramatic differences in the number of cases of prostate
cancer are also seen in different countries, and there is some evidence
that a diet higher in fat, especially animal fat, may account for some
of these differences. Family history or genetic factors also appear to
play a role, particularly for families in whom the diagnosis is made in
men under 60 years of age. The risk of prostate cancer rises with the
number of close relatives who have the disease.
Age, race, and family history of prostate cancer can affect the risk
of developing prostate cancer.
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing
a disease. Risk factors for prostate cancer include the following:
- Being 50 years of age or older
- Being black
- Having a brother, son, or father who had prostate cancer
- Eating a diet high in fat or drinking alcoholic beverages
Prostate cancer can sometimes be associated with known risk factors for
the disease. Some risk factors can be reduced, though not all can be avoided.
Age: The risk of developing prostate cancer increases
as a man gets older.
Chemoprevention: Chemoprevention is the use of specific
natural or man-made drugs, vitamins, or other agents to reverse, suppress,
or prevent cancer growth. Several agents, including difluoromethylornithine
(DFMO), isoflavonoids, selenium, vitamins D and E, and lycopene have shown
potential benefit in studies. Further studies are needed to confirm this.
Diet and Lifestyle: The effect of diet on prostate cancer
risk is under study. A diet high in fat, especially animal fat, may be
associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. More studies are
needed to determine if a low-fat diet with more fruits and vegetables
helps prevent prostate cancer. Hormonal Prevention: Studies are underway
to discover the role of certain drugs, such as finasteride, that reduce
the amount of male hormone as preventive agents for prostate cancer. Hormones
are chemicals made by glands in the body. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream
and control the actions of certain cells or organs. Some hormones can
also be made in a laboratory.
Race: The risk of prostate cancer is dramatically higher
among blacks, intermediate among whites, and lowest among native Japanese.
However, this increase in risk may be due to other factors associated
with race. Studies have shown a link between levels of testosterone, a
hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics,
and prostate cancer risk, with black men having the highest levels.
What prostate changes should you be aware of?
Growing older raises your risk of prostate problems. The three most common
prostate problems are:
- Infection, called prostatitis
- Enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Prostate cancer
One change does not lead to another. For example, having prostatitis
or an enlarged prostate does not raise your chance of prostate cancer.
It is also possible for you to have more than one condition at the same
time.
Most men have prostate changes that are not cancer.
 Prevention
Doctors cannot always explain why one person gets cancer and another does
not. However, scientists have studied general patterns of cancer in the
population to learn about how things around us and things we do in our
lives may increase our chance of developing cancer.
Anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease is
called a risk factor; anything that decreases a person's chance of developing
a disease is called a protective factor. Some of the risk factors for
cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, although you can
choose to quit smoking, you cannot choose which genes you have inherited
from your parents. Both smoking and inheriting specific genes could be
considered risk factors for certain kinds of cancer, but only smoking
can be avoided. Prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing
the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing
cancer decreases.
Although many risk factors can be avoided, it is important to keep in
mind that avoiding risk factors does not guarantee that you will not get
cancer. Also, most people with a particular risk factor for cancer do
not actually get the disease. Some people are more sensitive than others
are to factors that can cause cancer. Talk to your doctor about methods
of preventing cancer that might be effective for you.
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