WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PROSTATE CANCER? Often, there are NO symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer. If symptoms DO occur, they can vary, depending on the size and exact location of the cancer in the prostate. Consult a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: • weak or interrupted urine flow • pain while urinating • painful ejaculation • blood in the urine or semen or  a nagging pain in the back, hips or pelvis WHAT TYPE OF EXAM IS USED TO DETECT PROSTATE CANCER? Prostate screening is quick and simple:  DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) Allows the doctor to feel the prostate and detect lumps or unusually firm areas on the prostate.  PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is a blood test that measures the level of PSA in your blood. Higher levels of PSA may mean cancer is present. For more information please call: Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (716) 845-4557 “MAN UP” (Minorities Allied for the Need to Understand & Prevent Prostate Cancer) MAN UP is a prostate cancer advocacy group that was formed in Buffalo, New York in 2008. MAN UP is a volunteer organization that is comprised of AfricanAmerican & Latino prostate cancer survivors and supporters who live in Western New York. What African-American Men Need to Know MAN UP serves men of color by providing them with educational resources to help them make informed decisions on issues related to prostate cancer screening & early detection, prostate cancer treatment, and survivorship. The members of MAN UP have collaborated with prostate cancer experts at the world-renowned Roswell Park Cancer Institute on programs & initiatives designed to educate minority men about prostate cancer throughout Western New York. For more information about MAN UP, including information on coordinating prostate cancer awareness presentations for your organization, call (716) 845-4557 or (716) 8451112. This brochure was designed by men who comprise the “MAN UP” Advocates Committee African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer. WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER? WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS? The prostate gland is located under the bladder and forms a donut-like collar around the urine channel (urethra). While the exact causes of prostate cancer are not known, the following factors increase a person’s chance of getting prostate cancer. Cancer is abnormal cell growth that can occur in any part of the body. Normal, healthy cells grow, divide and replace themselves to maintain the natural order of living.  Getting older is the greatest risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer testing for African American men should start at age 45 Prostate cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate. It is the most common cancer in American men after skin cancer. Prostate cancer usually starts in the outer part of the gland, so the doctor may be able to feel it during a rectal examination. Prostate cells produce a protein called prostate-specific antigen or PSA. When cancer develops, PSA may leak into your blood and raise the suspicion of prostate cancer before a lump can be felt. The PSA blood test, developed at Roswell Park, has allowed most prostate cancers to be found before they cause symptoms and before there is any spread.  Race - African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer. It is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men than in white men.  Family history also plays a role. If a man’s father or brother had prostate cancer, his chances of getting cancer are greater.  Diet- Men who eat large amounts of red meat may have a greater chance of getting prostate cancer. Some studies have shown that men who eat more fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of prostate cancer. HIGH RISK/EARLY DETECTION PROSTATE CANCER CLINIC Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) offers a High Risk/Early Detection Clinic for men with elevated PSAs who would like an RPCI specialist to evaluate their test results and recommend next steps. Because an elevated PSA level is not necessarily an indicator of cancer, it is important to get a second opinion and not rush into unnecessary treatments. Men should have a conversation with their primary care physicians about prostate cancer, and if necessary, have their doctor perform the appropriate screening tests first, before seeking an opinion from RPCI. If you wish to schedule an appointment, you may call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) and speak to a referral representative. The High Risk/Early Detection Prostate Cancer Clinic is located at the Roswell Park Amherst Center at 100 College Parkway, Suite 290 in Williamsville, New York.