Except for skin cancer, cancer of the prostate is the most common malignancy in American men.

Wallace Hunter knows the importance of screening for prostate cancer and being able to get treatment for the disease in its earliest stages. "I am a prostate cancer survivor, 6 years."

Urologist Jasper Rizzo explains, "Prostate cancer has become the number one cancer diagnosed in men in this country today and a lot of that is due to the PSA test."

Dr. Rizzo says that screening for prostate cancer can be performed in a physician's office using two tests: the PSA blood test, and the digital rectal exam. The American Cancer Society recommends men get tested starting at the age of fifty, however there are some exceptions. "If you have a family history, a direct relative that has prostate cancer you should start at 40. And if you are an African American male in this country it should also start at the age of 40."

Dr. Rizzo also says that if both tests are normal, you will not need another screening for a year. "If either one is abnormal and you have not been evaluated before we would probably recommend taking the next step which is an x-ray or an ultrasound and probably a biopsy of your prostate."

If you're diagnosed with prostate cancer your treatment options can involve surgery, radiation, hormone therapy or you may even be advised to just watch and wait. Talk to your physician and be proactive in your own research to decide what's best for you. You may also want to attend a support group.

Wally says, "You'll probably meet another men who really has experienced what you've been through. And that's the key, and that's the key for any support or education program."

The typical group format is a two-hour meeting held on a monthly basis. There's usually an education presentation and a support and sharing session. For more information on attending a support group for prostate cancer survivors, you can call 239-481-7320.