September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Each September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is observed in an effort to remember those lost to prostate cancer, offer support to patients and their families, and highlight the health community’s commitment to better prevention, detection and treatment methods. Among American men prostate cancer is both the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, although when it is detected early it boasts some of the highest survival rates.
Although prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates of have declined over the past two decades, in 2013 alone, an estimated 239,000 men in the US will be diagnosed with the illness, and almost 30,000 men will die from this disease. African American men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, having higher rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and death than men of all other racial or ethnic groups in the US.
Today, 1 man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only 1 man in 34 will die of this disease. More than 2 million men in the US who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. When detected during these earliest stages the 5-year survival rate is close to 100%. The key is getting men to know the facts on prostate cancer and to know what their real risks are. Learning about your personal prostate cancer risk helps you make informed decisions with your health care provider.
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Advanced prostate cancers can cause some symptoms, such as:
• Problems passing urine, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
• Blood in the urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain in the hips, back, chest and other areas from cancer spread to bones
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at average risk should start talking to their doctors beginning at age 50. Men at higher risk should talk to their doctor about prostate testing earlier, including African Americans, at age 45. And men who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should be tested beginning at age 40. For both men at average and high risk, information should be provided about what is known and what is uncertain about the benefits and limitations of early detection tests and treatments so they can make informed decisions about testing.
To learn more about prostate cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org .