In the United States, prostate cancer is a serious health issue for middle-aged men—and one that often receives less attention than it warrants.
Other types of cancer, such as lung cancer (which is more deadly) and skin cancer (which is more common) tend to overshadow prostate cancer. Everyone knows, for instance, that your chances of developing lung cancer plummet if you avoid smoking cigarettes, and that you’re less likely to develop skin cancer if you wear sunscreen and avoid spending long periods of time in the sun.
But what about the prostate? How can men take action to protect themselves and reduce risk of prostate cancer?
This is an important question, especially during middle-age, when men are most likely to develop prostate cancer. In fact, the likelihood is higher than you might think: roughly 14% of all American men, or one man in every seven, will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lifetimes.
Roughly 14% of all American men, or one man in every seven, will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lifetimes.
Before you can effectively reduce risk of prostate cancer, it’s helpful to understand where the disease starts and how it works.