American Cancer Society's health recommendations for men
The American Cancer Society recommends the following lifestyle changes and early detection procedures for men:
* Beginning at age 50, both men and women should discuss colon cancer testing options with their doctors; colon cancer claims nearly 60,000 lives a year, but that number could be cut in half with proper screening.
* Also beginning at age 50, all men should talk to their doctors about having a digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every year. Men at high risk (African-American men and men with a family history of one or more first-degree relatives diagnosed at an early age) should begin their conversation at age 45. The five-year survival rate for early prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent.
* Quitting smoking, losing weight, getting regular exercise, eating fewer servings of red meat and foods high in fat and increasing eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains are all effective lifestyle changes that help reduce the risk of cancer.
For the most current cancer-related information, call (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
The American Cancer Society is an organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. The Society's Illinois Division has more than 120,000 volunteers and staff fighting cancer in the state.