Urologist Charles Ransler, M.D., answers questions from a concerned patient.

About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although doctors are not certain what causes prostate cancer, they know some men are at a higher risk of getting the disease.

Risks Men Can’t Control
“There are some risk factors that men cannot control,” said Charles Ransler, M.D., urologist at Western Baptist Hospital. Those risk factors include:

• Age. The risk for prostate cancer increases with age. More than 70 percent of all diagnosed prostate cancers are found in men age 65 and older.
• Family history. The risk for prostate cancer doubles if a man has a father or a brother with the disease.
• Race. African Americans are at greater risk compared to men from other racial or ethnic groups.

What Men Can Control
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help lower the risk for prostate cancer. “Men should eat a low-fat diet, with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day,” said Dr. Ransler. “Pink grapefruit, watermelon and tomato products, such as sauces and soups, contain a prostate-fighting antioxidant called lycopene.”

Men 40 or older should talk with a doctor about annual testing options. Men at high risk may want to begin screenings at age 45. Annual prostate exams include a blood test to detect the presence of a substance known as prostate specific antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal exam to detect physical changes.

For more information on cancer services at Western Baptist, visit the Online Cancer Resource Center at westernbaptist.com.