September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Do you know that 1 out of every 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and that Prostate Cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in America and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States? This year, almost 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and over 31,000 will die from this disease.

Screening for prostate cancer is quick and easy using two tests: the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, and the digital rectal exam (DRE). The American Cancer Society recommends annual PSA and DRE testing, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk, such as African American men and men with a strong family history should begin testing at age 45. When caught and treated early, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90%.

PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and released into the bloodstream. When there’s a problem with the prostate, such as when prostate cancer develops and grows, more PSA is released, until it reaches a level where it can be easily detected in the blood. It is important to "Know Your PSA." Keep a record of the exact numbers, not just that it is "in the normal range." The rate of change in your PSA level can be a more significant sign of disease than the actual PSA level.

There is no "one size fits all" treatment for prostate cancer, Consultation with all three types of prostate cancer specialists—a urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist—will offer the most comprehensive assessment of the available treatments and expected outcomes.
Knowledge and awareness about the prostate and prostate cancer is the first step in early detection and the treatment of prostate cancer.

For more information contact:
Us Too international Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network a grassroots organization started by prostate cancer survivors to provide men and their families with fellowship, peer counseling, timely, personalized, unbiased and reliable information on cancer, enabling informed choices about detection, treatment options and quality of life after treatment. www.ustoo.com

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. The PCF has a single goal: To find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer. www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

Just a friendly reminder, Jolene