Prostate
cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, lung cancer being
first, striking approximately 165,000 men each year with about 30,000 dying of
the disease.
Caught
early, prostate cancer can be treated, usually successfully. But remember, in
early stages, prostate cancer has no symptoms, so don't wait for
"something bad" to happen to Get It Checked.
Compared
with other men, African-American men and men with a family history of the
disease are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. A man with a father
or brother who had prostate cancer is twice as likely to develop the disease.
For
almost 30 years, doctors have had a powerful weapon in their arsenal for
detecting prostate cancer. In addition to the digital rectal exam (DRE)
patients can have a simple blood test called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA),
that will detect a majority of prostate problems early. Since the PSA has been
used, prostate cancer deaths have declined and the number of successfully
treated prostate cancer cases has risen.
During
September—Prostate Cancer Awareness Month—Men’s Health Network is urging men to
talk to their healthcare providers about prostate cancer. They also encourage
women to get involved and urge their husbands, fathers, brothers, and other
loved ones to talk to their healthcare provider about prostate screening,
including the PSA and DRE tests.
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