Multiple tissue samples from the prostate are taken through the rectal wall. If the tissue sample tests positive for cancer, it is rated according to how far the disease has spread and how aggressive the cancer cells are. Some tumors are slow growing and, depending on a man's age, may not represent an immediate health risk. Surgical and radiation techniques have improved over the past decade, but can carry significant risks and repercussions to lifestyle. Physicians can offer insight and statistics to help a man make the best decision for his situation.
Prostate cancer seems to have a genetic component.
African-American men are 50 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men. Studies indicate that a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fats may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Thirty years ago most prostate cancer was not detected until it was advanced.