Why are Vietnam veterans worried about prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. The rate varies dramatically by age and race. The risk of getting prostate cancer increases fivefold between the ages of 45-49 and 50-54 years, and nearly triples between 50-54 and 55-59. African-American men have the highest recorded incidence of prostate cancer in the world. Their risk is approximately double that of white men. The causes of prostate cancer are uncertain. Risk factors other than race and age include a family history of the disease and a diet high in fats. Prostate cancer is expected to account for about 29 percent of new diagnoses and 13 percent of cancer death per year in the United States. Some Vietnam veterans have already reached, while many are approaching, the age when prostate cancer is typically detected. Since prostate cancer is a slow-growing tumor, many men diagnosed with prostate cancer will actually die from other unrelated causes. Nevertheless, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of de
