BY MICHELLE SMITH
Healthcare advocacy keeps you in the loop, September was declared Prostate Cancer awareness month.
Prostate Cancer is one of the leading cancers for men Just Like Breast Cancer is for women. But, if Found Early it can Be Treated. I stress the importance of being screened; it saved my Father and my Father in Laws life. The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. It adds nutrients and fluid to sperm. Normally the size of a walnut, the prostate can be divided into right and left “lobes.”It is located in front of the rectum, just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen through the penis.
Here are some facts to consider: cited by Prostate Cancer Canada It is estimated that in 2015: 1 in 8 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life time 24,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. 4,100 men will die from prostate cancer. These are Alarming numbers.
The rate of men getting prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer varies by race and ethnicity.
But let the truth be told there is an increased occurrence in the African and Afro-Caribbean males.
Black men often complain about not wanting to be touched by a male in their backside, I’d be quite honest and say find a women Doctor because the benefits of being screened outweighs the feeling of not being screened. Think about how your family, your partner and your children would feel without your presence. Do it for them.
It is very important to consider routine screening at age forty rather than waiting until you experience symptoms. Make a note that your time line for your screening should be done earlier if you have increased risk factors i.e. Family History, Lifestyle.
While any man can develop prostate cancer, you may be at a high risk if you are over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer: Your risk is higher if a first-degree relative (father or brother) has had prostate cancer. African or Caribbean: Prostate cancer is more common among men in these ethnic groups. (Men of Asian descent have lower risk.) Overweight: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk. Do not have a healthy diet: Men who eat a low-fibre, high-fat diet are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Saturated fats most of our tasty treats may increase testosterone production and promote the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Here are some symptoms to look for and report to your Doctor. Let it be known that these symptoms may not mean that you have Prostate Cancer. These symptoms are also commonly found in other issues. Which is why I stress that you report symptoms immediately.
- Waking frequently at night to urinate.
- Sudden or urgent need to urinate.
- Difficulty in starting to urinate.
- Slow flow of urine and difficulty in stopping.
- Discomfort when urinating.
- Painful ejaculation.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
Do me a favor: Tell a Friend to tell a friend that for their next doctor’s visit inquire about having their prostate checked. Decrease your risk by changing some of your activities and of course remember that you are the most important person on your health team.
