Screening can detect prostate cancer at early stages, thereby reducing mortality rates.  Screening is paramount since there are no symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer.  Even with screening, prostate cancer is still a leading cause of cancer related deaths in men.  The American Cancer Society estimates 218,890 new prostate cancer cases for 2007, and 27,050 deaths due to this disease.  For unknown reasons, prostate cancer affects African American men more frequently, and death rates for African American men are twice as high.  Diagnosis rates are increasing and death rates are decreasing, which is a trend due to new screening tests.
 
The PSA blood test (Prostate Specific Antigen) and the DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) are two screening methods. The prostate gland is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.  It produces a liquid that nourishes, protects and carries sperm on ejaculation.  The PSA is more effective than the DRE, however both are recommended since cancer can occur in men with normal PSA levels.  The American Cancer Society recommends testing beginning at age 50 for those at average risk and 45 for high-risk patients.  High-risk patients include African American men and anyone who has a relative diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Studies comparing rates in different countries show that men with diets low in saturated fats are less likely to develop prostate cancer. 

Survival rate is high, in fact 100% according to the National Cancer Society, if the cancer is found early and localized in the prostate, and 90% of all cases are found early.  Prostate cancer spreads slowly, but during the late stages survival rate drops to 33.3% - demonstrating the need for early detection.  As with many cancers, obesity is a factor.  During more advanced stages of prostate cancer, symptoms may include weak or interrupted urine flow, inability to urinate, or difficulty stopping or starting urine flow, the need to urinate frequently, blood in the urine, or pain and burning with urination.

Treatments for prostate cancer include surgery, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy), and hormonal therapy.  Hormonal therapy shrinks the size of the tumor, thereby reducing pain.  Prostate cancer patients typically suffer from painful bone metastases, which is due to compression of nerve roots.

Recent research in the journal Cancer Research suggests jalapeno peppers might be the new drug to ward off prostate cancer cells.  Tests from the study showed that capsaicin, an ingredient in jalapeno peppers, starts a process in cancerous cells that leads to their demise.  In this test, the assault on the enemy cancer cells began 80% of the time.  The tests also showed smaller prostate cancer tumors in those treated with capsaicin.  Hot peppers could reduce the pain and symptoms of the disease.  The effective dosage of hot peppers was about three to eight fresh habanero peppers.  Prostate-specific antigens (PSA) was also reduced when treated with capsaicin.  Increasing hot-pepper intake is not recommended though because it's known to lead to stomach cancer in India and Mexico.  However, peppering out the PSAs with hot peppers might be the answer to putting out the prostate cancer wildfire.