Finding the Best Care for You
L I V I N G H E A LT H Y, L I V I N G W E L L
If you or someone you know has a prostate problem, call us. MedStar Washington
Hospital Center is a leader in caring for prostate conditions. Our team of experts is
one of the area’s most experienced in prostate cancer care. That expertise and
experience can make a big difference in getting the right diagnosis and the right
treatment, right away.
Take Time to Care
The American Cancer Society recommends that men
talk with their doctor about the benefits and risks of
screening for prostate cancer at the following ages:
AT AGE 50:
If you have no risks for prostate cancer.
AT AGE 45:
If you are African-American or have a close
relative (a father, a brother, or a son) who
had prostate cancer before age 65.
AT AGE 40: If you have several family members who
have had prostate cancer before age 65.
We would like to share some good
news with you about prostate health.
Through a few simple steps, you and
your doctor can work together to
keep your prostate healthy.
The goal is to find any problems early when doctors can
offer treatments that can save lives.
So take control of your prostate health! Read this
brochure or visit our website, www.medstarwashington.
org/cancer, to learn what you can do to live healthy
and live well.
About Washington Cancer Institute at
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Each year, the Cancer Institute diagnoses more new cases of cancer than any other
center in the Washington, D.C., area. Our goal is to treat the whole person, not just
the cancer, and to restore you to health as quickly as possible.
To ensure the best treatment for every patient, we use a team approach. We bring
together cancer specialists, nurses and support staff, all with in-depth knowledge of
the needs of cancer patients. The Cancer Institute offers the region’s most advanced
technologies for diagnosing and treating cancer. Most outpatient cancer services are
located in one convenient building.
You can get to the Hospital Center by car, Metrorail or Metrobus. To hear recorded
directions, call 202-877-8499 or visit www.WHCenter.org/cancer to see a map.
To find a doctor who is an expert in
prostate health—call the Hospital
Center at 202-877-DOCS (3627). Or visit us at
www.medstarwashington.org/cancer
“I am here today because my cancer
was caught early through screening.”
Marshall R. Phillips Sr., Prostate Cancer Survivor
110 Irving Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
www.medstarwashington.org
Simple Steps toward
Prostate
Health
The Inside Story
The prostate is part of the male
reproductive system. It makes the fluid that
carries sperm. It is a walnut-sized gland
found just below the bladder in front of the
rectum. It surrounds part of the tube that
carries urine out of the bladder.
Simple Steps to Prostate Health
1. KNOW YOUR RISKS
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. Having one or more risk
factors does not mean you will get prostate cancer. But you do not have to have these
risks to get cancer. Knowing your risks will help you and your doctor make the best
health choices for you.
The common risk factors for prostate cancer are:
Common Prostate Conditions
Age: Being 50 years old or older.
The prostate grows larger as you get older. If it gets too large, it may cause problems.
Most prostate problems are not cancer.
Race: Being African-American.
Here are the three most common types of prostate problems. If you think you have
one of these problems, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
Diet: Eating processed meats, such as bacon, ham, sausage, hot dogs and bologna
may increase your risk for prostate cancer.
Prostatitis: This is a swelling of the prostate caused by an infection. Many men get this
problem during their lives. It can make it hard or painful to urinate. It can also cause lower
back pain, body aches, fever or chills. Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics.
Weight: Being overweight may put you at greater risk for advanced prostate cancer.
A man is considered overweight if his waist is larger than 37 inches.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Benign means “not cancer” and hyperplasia
means “abnormal cell growth.” This abnormal cell growth causes the prostate to
become larger than normal. BPH is very common in older men and makes it hard to
urinate. Other men may feel the need to urinate a lot. If you have BPH, your doctor
may suggest regular checkups, medication or surgery. Your doctor can give you the
risks and benefits of each of these options.
Prostate Cancer: In a healthy body, cells grow, divide and die every day. But
sometimes, something goes wrong with this cycle. Cells do not die when they should,
and the body creates new cells that it does not need. These growths can result in
cancer.
Cancer that grows in the prostate gland is called prostate cancer. Men often have no
symptoms of prostate cancer. This is why it is important to see your doctor every
year and get any recommended screening tests. Prostate cancer can often be cured or
controlled if it is found and treated early.
Knowing about prostate cancer and finding it early before it has spread
can save your life.
Family history: If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, you are at greater risk.
2. KNOW YOUR BODY
If you notice any of the changes below, see your doctor right away.
They could be warning signs of prostate problems. You may not
have cancer, but if you do, the sooner it is found, the better
your chances are for a successful recovery. Remember
that early stage prostate cancer has no symptoms,
so regular checkups with your doctor are important.
3. VISIT YOUR DOCTOR EACH YEAR
Learn the Risks and Benefits of Screening
If you have one or more risk factors for prostate cancer, you should see your doctor
every year. Your doctor may also suggest that you be tested or “screened” for prostate
cancer. These tests help find prostate cancer early, when it is most treatable. There
are benefits and risks to these tests that your doctor will explain to you.
PSA (prostate-specific antigen) Test: PSA is a protein made by prostate cells. The
level of PSA in the body sometimes gets higher as men get older. A high level of
PSA does not always mean cancer but it can be a sign of prostate cancer. A PSA test
can detect prostate cancer 8 to 10 years before it causes symptoms. Your doctor will
order a blood test to find your PSA level. It is good to know your PSA because it
helps your doctor know what is normal for you.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Your doctor will put a gloved finger into your rectum to
feel for swelling, bumps or hard places on the prostate that might be a sign of cancer. In
some men with low PSA, the only sign of prostate cancer may be a lump felt by DRE.
These tests tell your doctor if you have a problem that needs additional testing. Your
doctor will explain the results of your test and any next steps.
Research shows that the following diet and lifestyle changes can lower
your risk of cancer:
Eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans. Aim for a
minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (2½ cups per
day). Eat more vegetables than fruit. Ways to increase veggie intake —
fill half your dinner plate with vegetables. Eat a salad as an appetizer
before lunch or dinner. Eat fruits and vegetables as snacks.
Maintaining a healthy weight. Aim for a Body Mass Index (BMI)
between 21 and 23. Talk to your doctor to find out your BMI.
Getting regular physical activity. Get moving and limit the amount of
television you watch. It is recommended that you be physically active for
at least 30 minutes every day. As your fitness level improves, aim for 60
minutes or more every day.
In addition, some experts say that certain food choices may protect
against prostate cancer.
They include:
Warning Signs:
 Pain in the hip or lower back
 Pain or trouble when urinating
 Pain upon ejaculation
 Blood in the urine or semen
 Loss of appetite or weight
 Bone pain
How to Reduce your Risk for Cancer
“It’s important to know what’s
normal and what’s not. Pay attention
to your body and go to the doctor right
away if you notice anything different.”
Greg Palmer, Prostate Cancer Survivor
 Foods with the antioxidant “lycopene,” found in tomatoes, tomato
sauce and tomato products, and fruits such as red or pink grapefruit
and watermelon.
 Foods with the mineral “selenium,” found in Brazil nuts (just a small
amount, ¼ cup) and in seafood and chicken (3 ounces).