According to the American Cancer Society, about one in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and providing education to those at potential risk for developing one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men in the United States.
With roughly over 313,000 new cases of prostate cancer estimated in the United States in 2025, our team is answering the most commonly asked questions surrounding this disease and how we may be able to help when it comes to your healthcare journey.
Is Prostate Cancer Genetic?
One of the most commonly asked questions is whether genetics plays a role in prostate cancer, and the answer is a bit complicated.
The American Cancer Society states that “having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease,” suggesting a genetic risk factor for the disease. However, many prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of the condition.
While genetics plays a role in the risk of developing prostate cancer, it is not the only risk factor to consider. Other factors that can increase your risk of developing the condition include:
- Older age: The risk of prostate cancer rises after the age of 50 years
- Race/ethnicity: This type of cancer develops more often in African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry. The reasons for this are unclear.
- Inherited genetic mutations: Inherited variants of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can increase the risk of prostate cancer, as can those with Lynch syndrome
How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Prostate cancer can often be found in its early stages in two ways: by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the blood or through a digital rectal exam. However, these tests can result in false positives or overdiagnosis because not all prostate cancers are the same.
How to Detect Prostate Cancer
If the results from the PSA blood test or the rectal exam suggest you may have prostate cancer, you will likely need a biopsy before a prostate cancer diagnosis can be given.
During the prostate biopsy, your doctor will conduct an imaging test to look at the prostate, then insert a thin, hollow needle into the prostate.
This needle will remove a small piece of prostate tissue that will be sent to a lab for further cancer testing.
Can Prostate Cancer Cause Back Pain?
Screening is not a necessity for everyone, nor is it a foolproof way to catch prostate cancer. Whether you undergo regular screenings or not, it’s critical to your health to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.
In its early stages, prostate cancer will typically cause no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, which is uncommon, you may experience the following:
- Urinary issues, such as a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more frequently
- Blood in the urine or semen
In the advanced stages of prostate cancer, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Difficulty getting an erection
- Pain in the back, hips, chest, and other areas
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
- Weight loss
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Fatigue
A Whole Body MRI for Prostate Cancer: Can it Help?
While there are screening protocols for prostate cancer, they have the potential to result in false positives or overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
That’s where our full-body MRI scanners come in.
Our whole body MRI scan can screen for nearly 500 health conditions and cancers across 13 organ systems–including the prostate. With the help of detailed imaging, our scans can provide insight into what is happening within your prostate and determine if further investigation and screening tests are necessary.
At MRI Wellness, our goal is to help you catch cancers in their early stages and improve your chances of living a longer life, free of cancer.
Schedule your scan with us today, and start your journey towards a better, healthier future.
