IF women are plagued with breast and cervical cancer, the men are not spared from a malignant disease as well, the prostate cancer.

Studies revealed prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and the second leading cause of deaths from cancer, after lung cancer.

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Prostate cancer is a cancerous tumor growth that consists of cells from the prostate gland (the gland at the base of the urinary bladder of men that functions as an aid to control urination and production of substances found in semen).

The troubling part of this disease is that the tumor usually grows slowly, remains confined to the gland for years, and produces little or no symptoms or outward signs.

Sadly, symptoms are more often associated with advanced prostate cancer that can metastasize throughout other areas of the body -- the bones, lungs, or liver.
Though the cause of prostate cancer is unknown, genetics plays a role in the risk of developing a prostate cancer. Other risk factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, hormonal influences, and environmental factors such as toxins and chemicals.

The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age. Thus, those inflicted with disease are common in the ages of 40 and older. This is why at Davao Doctors Hospital, doctors recommend that by age 40, all men should undergo yearly screening for prostate cancer.

"Prostate cancer can kill, and this is why we encourage men to have their screening tests when they reach age 45, more especially if they have prostate cancer history in their family," Dr. Herman Sorongon Jr., urologist of Davao Doctors Hospital, said.

Screening tests are done by digital rectal examination for lump detection and a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test to check the levels of protein released from the prostate gland that may signify the presence of cancer. And via the biopsy of the said gland, prostate cancer can be diagnosed. Additional tests can then grade the level of the disease.

Sorongon further said every year at Father's Day the urologists of DDH take part in the national drive of their association in giving free prostate cancer screening in the designated government clinics.

"Good news is that prostate cancer is treatable if detected at its early stage," he states.

Treatment is available for this kind of cancer. Options for organ-confined prostate cancer or locally advanced prostate cancer usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, cryotherapy, or the combinations of some of these treatments. For advance stages where metastases have occurred, hormonal therapy, which includes orchiectomy or the surgical removal of the testicles and chemotherapy, may be required.

No specific measures are known to prevent the development of prostate cancer, but early detection can save a life. Best move for now is preventive progression of the disease -- early diagnosis through screening that can detect even the microscopic cancers that are confined to the prostate gland and then attempting to cure the disease by stopping the growth through early treatment.

Although still vague as to how diet can slow the growth of prostate tumors, living and eating healthy should always be on top of a man's mind.

Low-fat diets, particularly avoiding red meat, soybean products (which work by decreasing the amount of testosterone circulating in the blood), lycopenes (present in tomatoes), the mineral selenium, and vitamin E are suggested.