September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the slogan of the Prostate Cancer Foundation is “It’s Time To Man Up”. I’m sure we all have that man in our life that avoids the doctor at all costs. Granted, very few people enjoy a trip to the doctor, but as 1 in 8 men will get diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime – making it the most common cancer in men – the time to go get checked out guys is now.
Prostate Cancer Canada states that “While deaths from prostate cancer have dropped by approximately 40% over the past 20 years, an estimated 4,100 Canadian men will die from the disease in 2015 alone”.
As knowledge is power, here some things you should know:
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and its purpose is to add 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.
Common signs and symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Difficulty urinating
- Urgent need to urinate
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Inability to urinate or difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in the urine or semen
It is important to realize that symptoms are not always present especially in the early stages of prostate cancer. If detected and treated in its earliest stages (when cells are only in the prostate), your chances of survival are greatly increased and, of course, early detection is key.
Prostate Cancer Canada Recommends:
- Men should get a PSA test in their 40s to establish their baseline.
- Men at high risk for prostate cancer should talk to their primary care provider before age 40 about prostate cancer.
- At or over age 70, the decision to end prostate cancer screening should be based on an informed discussion with their primary care provider.
What is the PSA test you ask? The PSA test is a simple blood test, taken from the arm, which measures the amount of PSA protein in the blood. It is common for PSA to be found in the blood in very small concentrations. Higher levels of PSA may indicate the presence of cancer, but can also be an indicator of other prostate conditions.
Now, what makes most men squirm at the thought of being tested is if their Dr. feels they need a DRE. What is the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)? In a digital rectal exam (DRE), your doctor will feel the size and shape of the prostate by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum. The area where most prostate cancers are found can be felt during this test.
We get it guys….that doesn’t sound like fun…. But in the words of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, “It’s Time To Man Up!”
