Some prostate cancer is familial. If your father or grandfather had it, your risk increases. For men with a close male relative who had prostate cancer, urologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas recommend yearly screenings after the age of 40. Others should be screened at the age of 50. Take advantage of free screenings at medical centers nationwide during national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, this month.
Most prostate cancer develops late in life and grows slowly.
The most effective treatment is surgical removal of the prostate gland. But there are other alternatives, including radiation therapy. And some older men appropriately choose no treatment at all. Become an informed patient and a partner in the treatment of your prostate cancer and choose the best treatment for you. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional.