Take Action to End Prostate Cancer

A strong push in recent years to raise awareness about prostate cancer has gone a long way in improving the survival rate associated with this disease. Even so, some 180,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone. Some 26,000 men in the United States will die from the disease.

Surges in awareness, early screening and careful intervention have all gone a long way in making this disease much more survivable. More work, however, still needs to be done. People who want to do their part to help eradicate prostate cancer will find there are actions they can take. Here are just a few of them:

• Spreading the word – Awareness is critical in the battle against prostate cancer. Men and women alike can help spread the word about the disease, the need for early screening and the importance of taking preventative measures when possible.
• Fundraising – While many treatments exist for prostate cancer, more work still needs to be done on this front. Clinicians are working to develop more accurate early screening tests and research continues in regard to treatments that may offer men even better chances for survival while cutting down side effect risks.
• Understanding risks – All men are technically at risk for the development of prostate cancer, especially as they age. Certain factors, however, may elevate personal risks. They include ethnicity, family history and genetic mutations. Obesity, diet, chemical exposure and other factors may also play a role.
• Going in for early screening – Prostate cancer is considered one of the most treatable forms of cancer when it is detected in its earliest stages. It is recommended that men at low to average risk begin going in for early screening around the age of 50. Men at higher risk may find that early screening should start much younger for them. Routine screening may include a simple blood test and a digital rectal exam.
• Following through – Prostate cancer is not something that can be screened for once and then be forgotten about. Following through with routine exams is important to help detect this disease in its earliest stages should it form.

Prostate cancer has been beaten back, but it hasn’t been defeated. There are many steps that can be taken to help in the fight against this disease. Raising awareness is one of the most important contributions men and women alike can make to the battle. To find out more about prostate cancer and personal risks, men are encouraged to talk with their healthcare providers.