| Although there is considerable debate about the | | | | will develop other conditions alongside their prostate |
| subject of prostate cancer prevention there is no | | | | cancer on which attention is focused and which |
| doubt that the starting point is to clearly understand | | | | ultimately results in their death. |
| the risks involved and, having done this, there are | | | | So, if you are not sure of your family history, then a |
| then many steps that can be taken to significantly | | | | good starting point is to check things out if you can. |
| reduce these risks. | | | | If this is not possible, then it's probably a good idea |
| Over the years there has been considerable debate | | | | to err on the side of caution and assume that the |
| about prostate cancer and the subject of prostate | | | | risk might be there rather than assume that you're in |
| cancer prevention in particular remains somewhat | | | | the clear. |
| controversial. Although, as with many cancers, men | | | | Another important factor is that of race. African |
| do not themselves cause the onset of prostate | | | | American men for example, and men of African |
| cancer, there are certainly a number of risk factors | | | | descent, are at a greater risk than Hispanic men who, |
| for developing the disease and there is a great deal | | | | in turn, are at more risk than Caucasian men. The risk |
| that can be done, if not to prevent it, then certainly | | | | for an African American man is about sixty percent |
| to reduce the risk of developing it. | | | | higher than that of a Caucasian man. |
| The first step in preventing prostate cancer is to | | | | The next risk factor is diet and men living in Western |
| understand that you are at risk of developing the | | | | countries such as the United States or the United |
| condition and to know just why you are at risk. Here | | | | Kingdom are at increased risk because of the high |
| the starting point in understanding the risk is heredity. | | | | levels of fat in many Western diets. Here for the |
| There is no doubt that men with a family history of | | | | first time is a risk factor that you can actually do |
| prostate cancer are at greater risk and, in general, | | | | something about and lowering the fat in your diet |
| the risk for a man with one close relative having | | | | and eating such things as more fresh fruit and |
| prostate cancer is about twice that of a man without | | | | vegetables can lessen your risk quite considerably. |
| any family history. With two close relatives this risk | | | | At this point we start to run into difficulty as, |
| rises to about five times that of someone with no | | | | beyond the basic principle of reducing fat your diet, |
| family history and with three close relatives reaches | | | | opinions begin to differ when it comes to other |
| a staggering ninety-seven percent. | | | | aspects of the diet which may be helpful in prostate |
| The problem here is that many men are unaware of | | | | cancer prevention. |
| their family history, not least because many | | | | There is little doubt that levels of such things as |
| grandfathers, fathers or brothers have died from | | | | vitamins and minerals in your diet can have a dramatic |
| other illnesses and were perhaps never even aware | | | | effect on your health generally and will certainly have |
| of the fact they have prostate cancer. This happens | | | | a part to play when it comes to prostate health. |
| because prostate cancer will often develop late in life | | | | However, determining just which vitamins and |
| and can be a very slow growing cancer. As a | | | | minerals play a part is not an easy matter and is |
| consequence there is a good chance that individuals | | | | certainly a subject all of its own. |