Why You Need To Get Informed About Prostate Cancer

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the U.S., and it’s a time when health advocates and experts busy themselves with raising awareness for the potentially deadly health condition. Additionally, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month aims to do the following:

• Provide readily available prostate health screenings
• Advocate for more funding and research for health issues related to the prostate
• Educate the public about symptoms and risk factors

As the second-most common cancer among men in the U.S., it’s estimated that about 161,360 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. this year alone. Every man is at risk for the disease, although there are certain groups at a greater risk than others. African-Americans, in particular, have a greater chance of prostate cancer than their white counterparts have and are also twice as likely to lose their battle against the disease as white men. Things get even bleaker if you have a family history of prostate cancer or if you’re older than 50 years old.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

So, how can men tell if they have prostate cancer? Are there symptoms to look out for? The short answer is yes. As the disease progresses, prostate cancer will begin to present symptoms, such as interrupted or weakened urine flow, difficulty or painful urination, or blood in the urine. Men who experience these symptoms should immediately visit their healthcare provider because early detection of the disease can save their lives.