According to the American Cancer Society, one in every six men will develop Prostate Cancer in their lifetime. While prostate cancer is slow-growing and curable if found early, there are few if any early warning signs. Some of these symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer include pain, weight loss and urinary disruption. In April, the American Urological amended the testing schedule for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from beginning at age 50 to age 40 for men with average risk. Make sure you have talked to your doctor about your risk and regular screenings.

Currently there is no sufficient data to prove that prostate cancer is preventable however maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle are universally important for men’s health. Recently studies have shown that drinking 8 oz of pomegranate juice daily may slow the progression of localized prostate cancer and lycopene, a compound found in cooked tomato products, may also provide protective benefits.

If you happen to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are several treatment options available:

• Prostatectomy has the highest cure rate and is one of the more aggressive options and involves the surgical removal of the prostate. Talk to your doctor about the risks involved with any surgical procedure.

• Radiation therapy can be both external or through radioactive pellets (seeds) implanted directly in the prostate. This is used on older men who tend not to tolerate surgery and can require special technology.

• Hormone therapy is another option that requires shots or pills to decrease testosterone levels which slows the growth of prostate cancer, as the cancer cells need testosterone in order to grow.

• Cryotherapy creates an iceball within the prostate to freeze the growth of cancer cells. This is not the most common method of treating prostate cancer but you should talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.