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Prostate Cancer Awareness | |||||
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What is the prostate?: The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive ystem. It is located above the rectum and just below the bladder. The main purpose of the prostate is to produce fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm during the male orgasm.The prostate is a gland that is necessary for having babies. When do prostates develop problems?: it is likely that the prostate has not caused any problems. But for men who are 40 and over, the prostate may become a source of problems. For instance, 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer. Early stages of prostate cancer usually do not cause any symptoms; thus, yearly medical checkups are very important. Other problems, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) can cause bothersome urinary symptoms. Facts about prostate cancer::  More than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year.
One out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
More than 30,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year. Prostate Cancer, two words no man wants to hear. However, there's good news all men should listen to. Surviving prostate cancer is greatly increased when  |
diagnosed early and there are several steps that can be taken now to help beat the odds of developing advanced prostate cancer. 1. Get Screened The best prevention against advanced prostate cancer is early detection!Because symptoms of prostate cancer may not occur until the disease is advanced, screening is the first step. Screening includes a physical exam and a blood test.Men at high risk should be screened at 40- (high risk factors include a family history of prostate cancer and/or men of African American descent.) All other men should begin screening at age 40-45. All men should undergo screening once per year. 2. Women speak up! Women have a role in beating prostate cancer as well.As many as 60% of men screened say that their wives, girlfriends or another female encouraged them to checked. 3. Diet makes a difference A Harvard study showed that a diet high in dairy and fatty foods, particularly those of animal origin, increased the risk of developing prostate cancer by 80%.Studies of Asian men reveal a low incidence of prostate cancer which may be attributed to a diet higher in fermented soy food |
products as well as a low fat diet.and food sources rich in anti-oxidents (vitamin E and selenium) have been shown to control cell damage and may prevent prostate cancer. Tomatoes are also good for prevention. 4. Get active! A healthy exercise program will increase circulation, lower stress and may decrease levels of prostate-stimulating androgens. Several studies suggest a relationship between obesity and more aggressive prostate cancer. 5. Do your homework The more you know and the earlier you know it, the more control you have over your outcome.Read, ask others, and go on-line to educate yourself about prostate cancer. Prostrate Cancer Risk List Age: Prostate Cancer is most common in men over 40 and the risk increases with age. The lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer is 1 in 6.96% of prostate cancer deaths occur in men over 60, and 50% are in men over 80. 21% of all cancer deaths in men over 80 are from prostate cancer. As the US male population continues to age, the risk that the "golden years" will be shortchanged by prostate cancer is significant! Race: African American men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer disease and to die from it. The death rate for African American men is almost 2.5 times greater than white men. Family History: The chance of getting prostate cancer doubles if just one close relative (father or brother) has the disease. | ||||
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Copyright 2006, Mecosta County Medical Center