September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors are urging men to put prostate health on their radar.
"There are many cancers that are latent and in us but never develop. Classic case is very early-stage prostate cancer," said Dr. Barry Boyd, of Yale New Haven Greenwich Hospital.
There are three basic steps men can take to know whether they're at higher risk than normal.
- Get screened by your doctor starting at age 45 and take a blood test to check PSA levels.
- If you're in a high-risk group, start those screenings at age 40.
- Watch your diet: Cut back on red meat, load up on fruits, vegetables and plant-based proteins.
Studies show that exercise also helps.
"Activity three or four times a week reduces recurrence rate by 30 to 40 percent," said Dr. Boyd.