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MARQUETTE -- It's a disease that most often has no symptoms. Yet each year, thousands of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer.  But there are precautions men can take to reduce their risk of being diagnosed.

One of the key steps in prevention is by visiting your doctor to have a screening test done.  All men over 50 should have the test done once a year.  Some groups are at a higher risk for prostate cancer; men with a family history of the disease and African Americans should start getting the test at age 40.

The test consists of a digital rectal exam and a blood test known as a PSA.  Both tests give lots of information to the doctor.

"Well, important findings on prostate exams are the size of the gland, the symmetry of the gland--each side of the gland should feel similar--and the nodularity of the gland.  Sometimes prostate cancers can feel like a bump or a stone within the prostate," explained urologist Dr. Michael Ouwenga.

If someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are plenty of treatment options available.

"As simple as observation--keeping a close eye on the cancer, removing the prostate gland surgically, radiation to the prostate and the surrounding tissues, and hormone treatments; there are shots that decrease the testosterone, the male hormone in the body.  For advanced diagnosis, sometimes chemotherapy is appropriate," Ouwenga stated.

Not only is medical treatment important...prostate cancer support groups can play a huge role in recovery.

"Typically most of the members that have been in this group have really been gentlemen who have had prostate cancer and have had treatment and really are dealing with some of the aftereffects.  So I think the group for them is a lot about camaraderie, about I think just having other men that they can identify with," said health psychologist Dr. Gregory Jones.

Although there is no known cure, prostate cancer is a disease with a high survival rate with early detection.