Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and Montgomery County Commissioners want residents to be aware of the disease. At Monday’s commissioner meeting, an proclamation was passed recognizing September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 220,800 new cases of prostrate cancer will appear per year. Of those cases, 27,540 cases will result in death. About one man in seven will be diagnosed with the disease in his lifetime.
Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. The ACS said about six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 66.
Dr. Mary Margaret Rhees, an oncologist at the Marie Canine Cancer Center at Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health- Crawfordsville, said the cases seem to increase as we live longer.
“Our population is aging,” Rhees said. “The number of prostrate cases is related to the age of our population.”
Rhees said the key, as in any type of cancer, is early detection. She said it is best for at-risk men to talk to their family doctor to initiate the discussion.
“There is nothing wrong with asking your doctor questions about prostrate cancer,” Rhees said. “Ask your doctor about the risk factors and symptoms of prostrate cancer. Make it a part of the yearly checkup.”
Prostate cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in men, is treatable with high success rate. In fact, Rhees said since the 2000’s nearly 99 percent of the patients survive more than five years. That number has improved since the 1970’s when only 67 percent of the patients were alive after five years from being diagnosed.
“We have made dramatic improvement in prostate cancer,” Rhees said. “We now have better testing for prostrate cancer, which is resulting in earlier diagnosis. We have better local treatment capabilities, our surgery techniques are better and we have better techniques of radiation to treat it.”
Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. More than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
Montgomery County resident Virgil Lawrence is a 29-year prostate cancer survivor. Before living in Ripley Township, Lawrence was active in the San Jose, California Prostate Cancer Support Group from 1988 until 2010. Lawrence is responsible for bringing the request for a declaration to commissioners.
His battle with cancer is told in a book entitled “The Woman Who Cured Cancer,” by Edmond G. Addeo. The book is available at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
Lawrence believes prostate cancer awareness is needed and essential in battling the disease and that is why he asked commissioners for the awareness declaration.
THE MORE YOU KNOW
Urinary symptoms of prostate cancer
Because of the proximity of the prostate gland in relation to the bladder and urethra, prostate cancer may be accompanied by a variety of urinary symptoms. Depending on the size and location, a tumor may press on and constrict the urethra, inhibiting the flow of urine. Some prostate cancer signs related to urination include:
• Burning or pain during urination
• Difficulty urinating, or trouble starting and stopping while urinating
• More frequent urges to urinate at night
• Loss of bladder control
• Decreased flow or velocity of urine stream
• Blood in urine (hematuria)
Other prostate cancer signs & symptoms
Prostate cancer may spread (metastasize) to nearby tissues or bones. If the cancer spreads to the spine, it may press on the spinal nerves. Other prostate cancer symptoms include:
• Blood in semen
• Swelling in legs or pelvic area
• Numbness or pain in the hips, legs or feet
• Bone pain that doesn’t go away, or leads to fractures
Some common risk factors for prostate cancer include:
General
• Race: Studies show that African American men are approximately 60 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime than Caucasian or Hispanic men.
• Age: The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. While only one in 10,000 men under age 40 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, one in 15 men in their 60s will be diagnosed with the disease.
Genetics
• Family history: Men with an immediate blood relative, such as a father or brother, who has or had prostate cancer, are twice as likely to develop the disease. If there is another family member diagnosed with the disease, the chances of getting prostate cancer increase.
Lifestyle
• Diet: A diet high in saturated fat, as well as obesity, increases the risk of prostate cancer.
• High testosterone levels: Men who use testosterone therapy are more likely to develop prostate cancer, as an increase in testosterone stimulates the growth of the prostate gland.
