Approaching your 50’s? Now may be a good time to start having annual prostate exams. Prostate Cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. More than 218,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone, and more than 27,000 will die.

With statistics like those, one cannot be too careful and it’s a great time think about the ways men can keep their prostates healthy and be proactive about cancer prevention. "Prostate cancer and problems urinating caused by benign prostatic enlargement affect the vast majority of men as they age," said Dr. Christopher Saigal, an assistant professor of urology and a researcher at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center. "It makes sense to do what you can to avoid a foreseeable problem with your health".

Here are some factors to consider:

• Age: After age 50, the chance of having prostate cancer increases; more than 70 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 65 or older.

• Race: African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men, and they are twice as likely to die from it.

• Nationality: Men living in North America have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer than men living in Asia, Africa, or South America.

• Diet: Many studies have shown eating a high-fat diet leads to a greater chance of developing prostate cancer. According to some research, eating fruits and vegetables with high levels of lycopenes or selenium appears to lower prostate cancer risk.

• Physical activity: Lack of exercise and obesity can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

• Family history: Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is even higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if the relatives were young at the time of diagnosis.

Here’s what you can do to help prevent prostate cancer:

1. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.

1. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, and have been touted as prostate healthy. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale also are good choices.

1. Limit your intake of red meat, especially high-fat or processed meats, and limit your intake of high-fat dairy products.

1. Tell your doctor if you have a family history of prostate cancer. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man's risk of developing this disease.

1. Include more soy in your diet from sources such as tofu, soy nuts or soy flour or powders.

1. Avoid tobacco and alcohol.

1. Include in your diet selenium-rich foods such as wheat germ, tuna, herring and other seafood and shellfish, beef liver, kidney, eggs, sunflower and sesame seeds, cashews, mushrooms, garlic and onions. Selenium reduces risk of prostate cancer.

1. Get screened. PSA blood test and digital rectal exams are recommended annually, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk, such as African American men or men with a strong family history of prostate cancer should begin testing at age 45.