Prostate Cancer
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Healthy
Living -- pages 18 - 22
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Prostate Cancer
The warning signs might be easy to ignore , but for over 800 thousand men this year , prostate cancer can become the battle of their life . That ' s why September has been delegated to raise awareness about this disease .
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men , and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men , after lung cancer . Because prostate cancer often has no early symptoms , many men just live with the delays in urination and constant trips to the bathroom rather than get tested . And that ' s a mistake , because with early discovery , survival rates are good .
The prostate is a hidden gland , part of the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum . It ' s about the size of a walnut and surrounds part of the urethra ( the tube that empties urine from the bladder ).
According to the National Cancer Institute ( NCI ), almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas ( cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids ). Advanced prostate cancer can cause men to urinate more often or have a weaker flow of urine , but these symptoms can also be caused by benign prostate conditions .
The National Cancer Institute ' s Surveillance , Epidemiology , and End Results Program estimates that of the over 800,000 men diagnosed this year , almost 35,000 of them are expected to die from the condition .
There are also other cancers that run in your family that can affect prostate health - breast and ovarian
cancer , for example , have been linked to a higher risk . Exposure to certain chemicals like pesticides and Agent Orange may also increase the possibility . But the biggest cause of death from prostate cancer is avoidance - so many men do not even want to consider the possibility . Our lives are demanding , and PC screenings might not be on our list of priorities - but after the age of 40 , overall health includes prostate health , and by adding PC screenings to our routine health care , our doctors may catch issues early on .
Are you at risk ? Nearly 60 percent of all prostate cancers are developed in men over the age of 65 . If your family history includes any prostate cancer cases , if you smoke , if you are overweight , please take action - early screening can save your life . Call for an appointment with your doctor this month - Prostate Cancer Awareness Month .
Source : The American Association of Cancer Research ( AACR ) based at the University of Pennsylvania - a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to prevent and cure cancer through research , education , communication , collaboration , funding , and advocacy ).
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