African-American Men Face Highest Prostate Cancer Risk

Face Highest Prostate Cancer Risk (NAPSA)—Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men in the United States. In 2001, 31,500 American men are expected to die from this type of cancer. While prostate cancer is more common among American men than men of many other countries, African-American men face particularly high risk. They are more likely than whites to develop the disease and are twice aslikely to die from it. Although it is unknown why African-American men have higher rates of prostate cancer than any other ethnic group, some scientists suspect that dietary choices affect risk. Studies suggest that men who havediets high in fat and deficient in fruits and vegetables may be morelikely to develop prostate cancer. Men age 50 and over—especially African-American men— should speak with their health care providers about annual prostate cancer screening. Annual screening with a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) can help detect the disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. For more information about protecting yourself against cancer, visit www.preventcancer.org.