What Do You Know About Prostate Health?
Prostate cancer and other diseases of the prostate are common. Learning about these diseases can help you recognize problems and seek medical treatment early.
Mark each statement true or false.
1. The prostate is located beneath the bladder and consists of glands and ducts embedded in muscle fibers.
True
False
2. Prostate cancer is always fatal.
True
False
3. Symptoms of prostate problems include a weak stream of urine; pain while urinating; frequent urination, especially at night; and trouble starting or holding back urination.
True
False
4. The American Cancer Society recommends all men have an annual digital rectal examination (DRE) beginning at age 40 and an annual prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) after 50.
True
False
5. PSA tests are always accurate.
True
False
6. African American men and men with a history of prostate cancer in their families have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
True
False
7. Treatments for prostate cancer include monitoring of a slow-growing cancer, surgical removal of the prostate, radiation therapy and hormone therapy.
True
False
8. The most important risk factor for prostate cancer is aging.
True
False
9. If your PSA is abnormal, you'll undergo tests before a doctor makes a confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer.
True
False
10. Many men experience a prostate infection or prostatitis at some time in their lives.
True
False
11. One of five men develop an enlarged prostate or benign prostate hyperplasia by age 80, and an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of U.S. men will have some type of prostate treatment.
True
False
12. Symptoms for an enlarged prostate are the same as those for early prostate cancer.
True
False
13. If prostate cancer is found, your doctor will request additional tests to determine the stage of the disease.
True
False
14. If you're diagnosed with prostate cancer, research your treatment options and discuss them with your doctor.
True
False
The answers
1. True.
2. False. Early detection and diagnosis and prompt treatment can successfully cure or control the disease.
3. True. Other symptoms include pain in the lower-back or groin area, blood in the urine and pain before or during ejaculation.
4. True. But African American men and those with a family history of the disease should have an annual PSA starting at age 40.
5. False. This test isn't always accurate because every man's prostate is different. Obese men (a BMI of 30 or greater) may have low or normal PSAs even in the presence of prostate cancer, making the interpretation of the test difficult.
6. True. Men with a family history of prostate cancer have two to four times the risk.
7. True.
8. True. More than 80 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65.
9. True.
10. True. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms: frequent or difficult urination; urgent need to urinate; pain in the lower back and in the area between the rectum and the testicles; pain or a burning sensation while urinating; or blood in the urine.
11. False. Four of five men develop it by age 80.
12. False. Prostate cancer in the early stages has few or no symptoms. When prostate cancer spreads, it may have similar symptoms to an enlarged prostate. Depending on what parts of the body it spreads to, prostate cancer symptoms may include bone pain, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
13. True.
14. True.
Evaluate Your Score
Give yourself 10 points for every correct answer.
110 to 140 points. You know a lot about prostate health.
50 to 90 points. You know a little about prostate health. To learn more, talk to your doctor and visit the National Cancer Institute Web site at www.nci.nih.gov.
0 to 40 points. You don't know enough about prostate health. Use the resources listed above to learn more.