Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer for men. For early stages of prostate cancer, symptoms may not be present, so it may be hard to know if you are at risk. Most symptoms of prostate cancer happen with advanced stages of the disease, but some men can still have no symptoms at all. It is of great value to learn who may be at a higher risk for this type of cancer and how to detect it early.
Three main risk factor categories for prostate cancer include:
- Age – Most common in men 65 and older.
- Race and ethnicity – African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are at a higher risk.
- Genetics – Family history of prostate, breast and ovarian cancers increases risk. All three cancers share some of the same genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
So what should you do if you are in one of these risk factor categories? Start with talking to your doctor. There are a few things they may suggest such a genetic testing or screening for prostate cancer. Early detection and treatment (if needed) may look different for each person based on risk factors and stage of disease.
Source: https://www.urologyhealth.org/healthy-living/care-blog/2021/prostate-cancer-early-detection-for-higher-risk-patients
