September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and we will be looking at how this disease affects Central Florida seniors and seniors in general– from detection to treatment to the search for a cure.
With over 200,000 estimated new cases in the U.S. in 2010, chances are you know someone affected by prostate cancer. Below you will find information and resources to help you better understand this disease, both its causes and effects.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It’s about the size of a walnut and is surrounded by other glands, nerves, and organs involved in sexual function. It’s possible to live without a prostate, but its location makes the cancer difficult to treat.
Prostate cancer forms in the tissues of the prostate, and usually develops in men over the age of fifty. Most prostate cancer is typically slow-growing (when compared to other types of cancer) and often symptom-free, so it’s important to be aware of the risk factors and methods for early detection.
Who is at Risk?
All men are at risk, simply because they are men, and one in six men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime. In general, men should start being tested at age 45. If one or more of the following risk factors applies, aside from age, you should start being tested at age 40.
- Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 50 years of age. The chance of developing it increases as men get older.
- Family History: A man whose father, brother, or son has had prostate cancer has a higher-than-average risk.
- Race: African-American men are more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer.
- Diet and Obesity: A diet high in dairy foods and calcium may cause a small increase in the risk of prostate cancer. Obese men (with a body mass index of over 32.5) are 33 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer if diagnosed.
- Chemical Exposure: People exposed to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer. Veterans exposed to herbicides like Agent Orange may be at higher risk as well.
Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer!
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages, Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 855-592-0013.
For More Information:
ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Presidential Proclamation of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Let Us Hear From You!
Have you or a loved one been affected by prostate cancer? What are some of the challenges in treatment and recovery? Have you been a caregiver for a senior with prostate cancer? If you are a man over 50, have you been tested?
