Early detection of prostate cancer has become more frequent due to the use of prostate serum screening tests (PSAs). These simple tests have made it much easier to determine if a man has prostate cancer. When prostate cancer is caught early, the survival rate increases dramatically.

For unknown reasons, prostate cancer rates are 66% higher for African American men that Caucasian men. If fact, African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world, with mortality rates two times higher than other men.

The American Cancer Society estimates that during 1997 there will be 334,500 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States. Of these, 6,300 will be in Tennessee. The Society also predicts that 41,800 men in the US will die from prostate cancer this year, 780 of them Tennesseeans.

Risk factors for the development of prostate cancer include age over 55, family tendency (though the connection is still unclear), and a diet high in fat and low in fiber.

With the help of a digital rectal exam and a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test, your doctor can make a diagnosis and frequently alleviate your anxieties. You should see your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• difficulty urinating
• frequent urination, especially at night
• painful, burning sensation when urinating
• blood in urine or semen
• persistent low back or pelvic pain

These symptoms can be warning signs of prostate cancer, but can also be caused by an enlarged prostate or normal changes due to aging.

After age 40, a digital rectal exam should be part of your regular annual check-up. Beginning at age 50, men should have a PSA blood test as well as the rectal exam each year. Men under the age of 50 who have a strong family history of prostate cancer and African American men should have PSA tests and digital rectal exams each year beginning at age 40.