Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Together with the Prostate Cancer Foundation we are raising awareness about Prostate Cancer throughout the month of September. The foundation strives to help men recognize the importance of their health and promotes early detection as the key to surviving prostate cancer.
According to the foundation’s website:
- A man will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every 3 minutes.
- African-American men are 2.4 times more likely to die of prostate cancer than Caucasian men.
- Prostate cancer is 100% treatable if detected early.
- In the U.S. 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer but for African-American men the risk is 1 in 5.
- As men age, their risk for developing prostate cancer also increases with 6 of 10 cases being diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
- If there is a family history of prostate cancer, you are twice as likely to develop the disease.
Educating your loved ones about prostate cancer and the importance of annual physicals and prostate exams will continue to impact early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Early detection is key to the successful treatment and possible cure.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation outlined the following risk factors and symptoms of prostate cancer:
Risk factors for developing prostate cancer include:
- Age
- Family history
- Genetic factors
- Race
- Lifestyle
- Dietary habits
Symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night
- Difficulty starting or holding back urination
- Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Difficulty in having an erection
- A decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pressure or pain in the rectum
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs
For the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, be sure to visit the foundation’s website for the latest news and updates.
If you are interested in getting involved in prostate cancer advocacy, please click here for various ways you can “take action”.