September Is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to become educated and enlightened on the disease. One of the main keys to beating any type of cancer is detecting it early. Becoming more aware of how to test and check for prostate cancer is one of the pillars of September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. 

Bad News And Good News

Approximately 29,000 men die from prostate cancer every year. In fact, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death to men in the U.S. If that is the bad news, the good news is that nearly 100 percent of those diagnosed with prostate cancer survive through five years if they catch it early. After 10 years, 98 percent of men live on after early diagnosis.

5 Ways To Reduce Your Risk

There are many potential causes to prostate cancer, so the best way to prevent it is to avoid those risky behaviors. If you are looking to reduce your probability of a diagnosis, try these five things:

1. Eat a low-fat diet.

2. Get your appropriate fat intake from plants rather than animals.

3. Add fish to your diet.

4. Eat more fruit and vegetables.

5. Reduce how much you eat dairy products every day.

Testing

It is typically recommended that men receive a rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test at age 40. There are a lot of pros and cons that go hand-in-hand with the PSA test. Having a conversation and shared decision with your doctor is normally your best option. On one hand, the PSA can save lives, and, if caught early, the treatment is less aggressive. On the other hand, some men are not at a high risk for prostate cancer and the test can be invasive. Additionally, it’s not always accurate and sometimes it prompts unnecessary use of treatments.  

Prostate Cancer And Veterans

Research has proven that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides during military service can cause prostate cancer in veterans. Serving in the military can often raise risk factors of cancer and other serious ailments for veterans.

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