Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer - Term Paper Example

Pro Cancer Introduction Pro cancer refers to a form of cancer that develops in the pro A large number of pro cancers develop at a slow pace, although some can develop at relatively rapid pace. Cancer cells at times spread to various body parts, especially lymph nodes and bones after developing in the prostrate. Initially, prostate cancer indicates no symptoms. During the late stages of the illness, individuals experience difficulties while urinating, pelvis pain, or bloody urine. Particularly when urinating. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also an illness that may indicate similar symptoms. The other symptoms that develop during the late stages of the cancer comprise of tiredness, especially when there is insufficient supply of red blood in the body. For instance, approximately 99 percent of prostate cancer cases occur to individuals aged over 50 years. When a person develops first degree in comparison to the disease, the risks of the disease increase more than two fold. In America, for instance, prostate cancer is common among African Americans compared to Caucasians. To determine whether the disease has spread to other body parts, it is vital to seek body imaging (ASCO, 2015). This paper will discuss ethnicity as a risk factor leading towards prostate cancer, statistics, prevention of the risk factor, methods of early detection, and additional risk factor affiliated with ethnicity. Ethnicity Risk Factor to Prostate Cancer Risk factors refer to those things, which influence the probability of an individual acquiring an illness, such as cancer. Different cancers are associated with several risk factors. It is possible to change risk factors, such as smoking, while others, including an individual’s family history, or age are impossible to change. However, risk factors do not reveal everything concerning the causes of prostate cancer. Most people showing one or more cancer risk factors do not get it, although others that get cancer may show few or unknown risk factors. Even though it is not possible to comprehend the exact predisposing factors leading to this type of cancer, scholars have revealed a few of them, which subject men to acquire the illness. The major force that makes one to develop prostate cancer is ethnicity (CDC, 2015). Ethnicity: Ethnicity is a key determinant with regard to evaluating the how diverse populations react to certain environmental conditions. For instance, with regard to different illnesses, individuals from different ethnic backgrounds portray different responses to the situations. In terms of ethnicity, certain ethnic groups have higher chances of developing prostate cancer compared to others. Based on studies directed towards risk of ethnicity towards prostate cancer, black men have higher chances of acquiring the illness. During the time of detection, the rate of outcome in this group is linked to low socio-economic status, less aggressive treatment initially, inadequate access to quality care, and biological aggressiveness of the illness. Nonetheless, not all studies reveal that disparities prevail in the case of prostate cancer between black and white men. For the Hispanic and Asian-American men, the illness is less common (Cancer.net, 2015). Regions, such as the Caribbean, Australia, Europe, and North America have the highest cases of prostate cancer. South American, Central America, Africa, and Asia have the least cases of prostate cancer, although scientists are unaware or the reasons that lead to these disparities. For instance, research shows that African-Americans are the ones that are mostly affected by prostate cancer. The Caribbean who originated from Africa also face high risks of acquiring the illness compared to men from other races. Men of African-American descent portray more than two times chances of dying from prostate cancer compared to white men. Latinos, Hispanics, or Asian-American men have less chances of developing prostate cancer compared to non-Hispanic men (Cancer.org, 2015). Prostate Cancer Etiology (Statistics) The rate at which men acquire or die from prostate cancer differs by worldwide in terms ethnicity and race. In the world, for instance, prostate cancer is the fifth major form of cancer that causes death related to cancer among men. In 2012, prostate cancer was evident among 1.1 million individuals, leading to about 307,000 deaths. It was the major form of cancer evident among men in about 84 countries. The illness was mostly common in developed countries. The rates of prostate cancer are also rising in developing nations. The rates of detection grew significantly, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s in most countries because of increased rates of PSA testing. Studies have also shown that males dying of causes unrelated to prostate cancer show reveal between 30 percent and 70 percent for individuals aged over 60 years (PCF, 2015). With regard to the rate at which men acquire prostate cancer every year, Figure 1 reveals the number of men out of 100,000, who acquired the illness every year, between 1999 and 2011 in terms of race and ethnicity. Figure 1: Prostate Cancer Rate by Race (CDC, 2015) In America, prostate cancer serves as the major form of non-skin cancer. It affects one in every seven men. However, to understand which individuals are highly likely to develop prostate cancer, then it is appropriate to consider various factors that subject one to the disease, although it is difficult to change some of them. For instance, as an individual gets older, he tends to portray higher risks of acquiring prostate cancer. Nevertheless, even though only one out of 10,000 men aged below 40 years are likely to develop prostate cancer, the rate goes up to 38 for those aged between 40 and 59 years, and one in 14 for those with aged between 60 and 69. In fact, approximately 65 percent of cases associated with prostate cancer are affiliated with men whose ages are more than 65 years. The average age in which men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. is 69 years. Beyond that age, the chances for an individual to develop prostate cancer becomes more common compared to any other form of cancer in either men or women (PCF, 2015). The U.S. portrays higher risks of prostate cancer because PSA screening is highly evident in the country. In 2008, the rates for diagnosis with prostate cancer were 83.8 percent for 100,000 individuals. This reflects a 10.8 percent lifetime risk. In terms of ASR Age-standardized rate), the rate of mortality is 9.7, which is an average when liked to the global viewpoint. However, the rate of mortality has been going down considerably during the PSA era unlike other nations around the world (Mayoclinic, 2015). Highest ASRs for global mortality are evident in southern and western Africa as well as in those regions having individuals from African ancestry, especially the Caribbean. ASRs go up to 61.7 in these regions. In the U.S., mortality ASRs differ for more than five times. For Asia-Pacific Islanders, the rate is 9.5 and 48.2 in the case of African Americans. Indeed, the ratio of mortality rate between white men and African Americans tends to be higher. The aggressiveness of the disease compared to other ethnic groups is higher, although tumor traits during the diagnosis process offer a partial explanation with regard to high mortality rates between African Americans (PCF, 2015). With regard to age, African-American men portray greater chances of getting prostate cancer compared to Caucasians. They also portray 2.5 chances of dying from the illness. On the other hand, Asian men, especially those living in Asia have minimal chances of developing the disease. In addition, a male person who has either a brother or a father having developed prostate cancer has double chances of acquiring the disease. The risk grows further if the disease was diagnosed among family members at an age below 55 years, or in case it affected about three or more members of the family (ASCO, 2015). The location of an individual is also a key contributor to acquiring prostate cancer. For instance, in the case of those men living in the United States, the likelihoods of acquiring prostate cancer are 17 percent. For men living in rural areas of China, the risk is 2 percent. Nonetheless, for those men from China who travel to western countries, their risk of acquiring the disease increases significantly. Men living in cities situated 40 degrees north of Columbus, Philadelphia, and Provo have higher chances of dying due to prostate cancer compared to other men living in the U.S. This effect results from inadequate sunlight during the first three months due to reduced levels of Vitamin D (ASCO, 2015). Risk Factor Prevention Men should adopt various practices to avoid getting prostate cancer. Different healthy practices play a vital role in avoiding risks of acquiring prostate cancer. Changing the diet that one takes is vital with regard to reducing risks of prostate cancer by between 30 and 50 percent. Men should mostly take fish because they have omega 3 fatty acids. These help in preventing inflammation, which leads to development of prostate tumors. For instance, research reveals that men who eat oily fish several times a week reduce chances of developing prostate cancer by about 57 percent. Eating various leafy greens, particularly spinach reduces chances of developing prostate cancer. Other products, such as summer squash, beans, red peppers, garlic, orange melon, and berries also help in reducing chances of acquiring prostate cancer. Furthermore, taking about six cups of coffee in a day also helps men avoid contracting deadly prostate cancer (Gower, 2011). Nonetheless, it is vital to note that ethnicity/race risk factor is not easy to avoid as in the case of other risk factors. Therefore, in case one suspects ethnic risk factors, it is vital for him to follow the appropriate testing processes to prevent the disease from developing to incontrollable levels. Taking drugs, such as Avodart and Proscar reduce risks of acquiring prostate cancer by about 23 percent. These are particularly essential in treating a prostate that is enlarged. However, one should take caution when using the drugs because when a person using them can develop lethal form of the disease, in case it emerged. In addition, having more sex has proved effective in preventing men from acquiring prostate cancer. This is because ejaculation facilitates in the removal of compounds that cause cancer, which may accumulate in the gland. Studies have shown that when men ejaculate for about 21 times in a month, their risk of developing prostate cancer reduced by about 33 percent. Moreover, it is possible to follow safety measures for prostate cancer with watchful waiting or persistent surveillance. Other treatments comprise of surgery combination, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. In case prostate cancer is evident only in the prostrate, it is possible to cure the condition. For those people whose condition has passed to the bones, bisphosphonates, and pain medications, targeted therapy may be appropriate. The outcome of the treatment depends on the age of an individual, various health problems, and the extent and severity of the cancer. A large number of individuals who have developed prostate cancer may not surfer in the event of the disease (Gower, 2011). Early Detection Methods Screening for prostate cancer is a contentious process. Testing for specific prostate antigen raises the chances for detecting cancer, although it fails to reduce mortality. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (PSTF), it is appropriate to screen for prostate cancer while following the PSA testing process because risks of over-treatment and over-diagnosis may emerge. In this case, the major benefits affiliated with testing fail to outweigh the anticipated harms. For instance, although reductase inhibitors tend to reduce low risks of cancer they fail to influence high cancer risks, meaning that they should not be recommended for prevention purposes (American Cancer Society, 2015). The issue of testing healthy men for prostate cancer symptoms is controversial. Nonetheless, it is vital for men aged over 50 years or those portraying risk factors of prostate cancer to seek tests. Here, it is vital to discuss the situation with the doctor concerning screening risks and benefits. The common tests that are appropriate for screening this illness comprise of DRE (digital rectal exam) and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests. For a DRE test, the medical practitioner makes an insertion of a lubricated finger to the rectum of an individual to examine the prostate’s status. In case the physician encounters any abnormalities in terms of share, size, or texture in the gland, one should seek additional tests. For a PSA test, the doctor draws sample blood from the vein in a person’s arm. The blood is analyzed for PSA, which is a substance, which the prostate gland produces naturally. In the event of higher than normal PSA amount prevails in the blood stream, this may reveal an inflammation, prostate infection, cancer, or enlargement. The PSA and DRE tests help in identifying prostate cancer during the initial states (Mayoclinic, 2015). Additional Risk Factor Apart from considering ethnicity as the key contributing factor towards prostate cancer, other practices may worsen this condition. For example, since prostate cancer is several diseases that result from different causes, the fatal and aggressive ones are associated with diverse underlying causes compared to tumors that grow slowly. For instance, although smoking is not linked to causing low-risk prostate cancer, it serves as a key contributing force that result to fatal prostate cancer. Failure to eat sufficient vegetables, particularly those from broccoli-family leads to higher risks of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Thus, addressing these situations helps one avoid developing prostate cancer. This is because smoking and failure to eat sufficient vegetables may make one to develop an aggressive version of the illness, leading to higher risks for death. References American Cancer Society. (2015). Finding prostate cancer early. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/moreinformation/prostatecancerearlydetection/prostate-cancer-early-detection-finding-prostate-cancer-early ASCO. (2015). Prostate Cancer: Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/statistics Cancer.net. (2015). Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/risk-factors-and-prevention Cancer.org. (2015). What are the risk factors for prostate cancer? Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-risk-factors CDC. (2015). What Are the Risk Factors? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/risk_factors.htm Gower, T. (2011). 5 Ways to Help Prevent Prostate Cancer. Retrieved from http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-11-2011/ways-to-help-prevent-prostate-cancer.3.html Mayoclinic. (2015). Diseases and Conditions: Prostate cancer. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20029597 PCF. (2015). Prostate cancer risk factors. Retrieved from http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5802027/k.D271/Prostate_Cancer_Risk_Factors.htm Read More