SEPTEMBER IS PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

PRESS RELEASES   8/30/2017

The American Cancer Society predicts that this year alone, more than 185,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and nearly 29,000 will die from the disease. Each day, countless physicians and researchers devote themselves to treating patients and finding a cure. Educating the public about the risks and treatment of prostate cancer is one of the strongest tools they have to increase early detection and save lives. Every male has some level of risk for getting prostate cancer just by being a man. But, there are a lot of other factors that make some guys more susceptible to prostate cancer than others. For the general population, a man has about a 17 percent chance of getting prostate cancer in his lifetime and a three percent chance of dying from it. Knowing your level of risk can help you develop your plan of attack. In general, men should begin screening for prostate cancer at age 45. If you have one ore more of the risk factors listed on this page (not including age), you should begin annual prostate cancer screening at age 40. •Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. One in every six men gets prostate cancer at some point in his lifetime. Men from 60 to 79 have a 14.76 percent chance (1 in 7) Men from 40 to 59 have a 2.58 percent chance (1 in 39) Men under 40 have a 0.01 percent chance (1 in 9,876) While it is rare for men Under 50 to get prostate cancer, those cases tend to be more aggressive. •Compared with men who have no family history of the disease, men with a father or brother who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer have more than twice the risk of being diagnosed. Men with two or more relatives have about five times the risk. Men with three or more relatives are almost guaranteed to get prostate cancer. •Rates of prostate cancer in the U.S. are 60 percent higher among African-American men, and the mortality rate is two-and-a-half times that of Caucasian men. Studies are being done on potential differences in physiology, diet and access to care. Rates for Asian men in the U.S. are lower than average, which may be a result of traditional diets. Hispanic men have a risk of getting prostate cancer similar to the general population. •Diet and Obesity. A diet which is high in fat, meat and sugar and low in fruits vegetables and fiber may be one of the greatest factors contributing to prostate cancer. Obese men those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 32.5 are 33 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer if diagnosed. •People exposed to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer. One pesticide, methyl bromide, has shown a clear link to increased prostate cancer among exposed farm workers. All men and their families are encouraged to educate themselves and develop healthy habits to combat prostate cancer. This includes regular screenings, which can lead to early diagnosis and successful treatment. We can all play a part in fighting the effects of this deadly cancer. Information provided by: www.fightprostatecancer.org