The article lists out the top risk factors for prostate cancer. It explains the different ways in which prostate cancer can be treated and also looks at options to prevent prostate cancer.

The top risk factors
The top risk factors that could lead to a person getting prostate cancer are:

• Age
  Those over the age of 65 are more likely to get prostate cancer.
• Race
  Afro-Americans and those of Caribbean descent are susceptible to cancer.
• Diet
  People who eat more red meat and high-fat food are at risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Disease
  Prostate inflammation and sexually transmitted diseases increase the risk of prostate cancer.
• Genetic
  Those with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to get this disease. People with genetic mutations are likely to get this form of cancer.

Prevention
It is not possible to prevent prostate cancer or any other cancer. However, it is possible to reduce the risks and be safe from prostate cancer. Some of the measures to prevent prostate cancer include:

• Following a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Exercising for at least 5 days a week.
• Those who are overweight need to exercise more and lose weight. They may also need to reduce their calorie intake to help with weight loss.
• Certain medications like 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are believed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It is important to talk to a doctor about these medications if one is at a high risk of getting prostate cancer.

Treatment
There are various treatment options for those suffering from prostate cancer. They are:

• Active surveillance
  Those who are at an early stage of prostate cancer may not require treatment. Regular physical exams and biopsies can be used to check if the cancer is growing. Treatment is needed only if cancer grows or starts showing symptoms.
• Surgery
  The most common treatment for prostate cancer is surgery. It involves radical prostatectomy which is the removal of the prostate and some surrounding tissues. It may also call for the removal of nearby lymph glands. There are risks to surgery that include incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
• Radiation therapy
  X-ray or proton beams are directed at the prostate to destroy cancer cells. Brachytherapy may also be used where radioactive elements are inserted into the prostate tissues. They destroy cancer cells. Radiation involves many side effects.
• Hormone therapy
  Here, testosterone production is stopped. Prostate cancer cells need testosterone and stopping it can kill cancer cells. There are different medications that can be used for this purpose.
• Cryotherapy
  Cryosurgery uses freezing, where cold gas is used to freeze cancer cells and kill them. The cold gas is inserted using fine needles. This is used if radiation therapy does not produce results.
• Chemotherapy
  This involves the use of medications to kill cancer cells. Chemo is used mainly if cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

This article discusses the top risk factors for prostate cancer and explains preventive measures and treatment for prostate cancer. The information can be useful for those at risk of developing prostate cancer.