September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men? The American Cancer Society’s estimates that in 2018, the United States will see:
- 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer
- 29,430 deaths from prostate cancer
- 1 man in 9 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Prostate cancer develops mainly in men 65 and older and in African-American men. It is rare to see a case before the age of 40 and 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older.
Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but fortunately most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. However, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. It’s important to keep up with your screenings to detect prostate cancer early.
Prostate cancer can often be found before symptoms start with a simple blood test and a rectal exam. If prostate cancer is found at an early stage, it will be at a more treatable stage than if no screening were done.
Many of the risk factors for prostate cancer, such as your age, race, and family history can’t be controlled. But there are some things you can do that might lower your risk of prostate cancer like maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.
It’s also important to see your doctor regularly, and schedule regular screenings starting at age 50.