Prostate cancer awareness month [Bulletin date: September 13, 2026]
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The good news is, if diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated successfully. In fact, the survival rate in the last 10 years is 97.9%.
There are
several known factors that may put a man at risk for prostate cancer. These may
include age (risk increases with age), race (African American men are at
greater risk), family history of prostate cancer (father or brother with
prostate cancer), other family cancer history such as colon, pancreatic,
ovarian or breast cancer, diet (consuming high-fat dairy or a lot of red meat),
obesity, history of infections, and possibly environmental factors such as rare
sun exposure, exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium, and smoking.
Early detection is key to preventing prostate cancer from becoming serious. Therefore, starting at age 40, regular screenings should be done to watch for changes which may indicate early prostate issues. This is as easy as an annual PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. During our Northside health screening event in March, 19% of men who took part in the cancer screening were found to have an elevated PSA and were referred to a physician for further follow up and early treatment, if needed.
If diagnosed, there are several treatment options so be sure to discuss all possibilities with your physician. In addition, our St. Ann Prostate Cancer Support Group is a great way to find spiritual support for those who have been diagnosed.
For more information go to: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer and/or send an email to prostatecancersupportgroup@st-ann.org.
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