Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers. Yet, it is also one of the most treatable types of cancer today. Because of that, there are ways you can educate yourself about the disease and learn how to cope with a possible diagnosis. Here are six facts about prostate cancer:
1. More than 200,000 men are diagnosed annually with prostate cancer, and an estimated 30,000 of these will die of the disease.
2. About one in nine men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and about one in 41 will die of it. Prostate cancer is serious, but most men diagnosed do not die from it.
3. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, second only to skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind lung cancer.
4. Not all prostate cancers are alike. More than 90 percent are found when they are confined to the prostate gland, and while some spread early and require treatment, many others are slow-growing and are unlikely to cause serious problems during a man’s lifetime.
5. The prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) measures the level of a protein produced by the prostate that circulates in a man’s blood. When there is a problem with the prostate, PSA levels are higher. For example, men who have a common condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may have elevated PSA levels (BPH is not cancer).
6. Changing your diet and exercise regimen can help to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Try to avoid consuming alcohol, caffeine and sodium. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
To learn more about the widely accepted treatments available at Arkansas Urology, visit our Prostate Cancer Center. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer or needs to schedule a screening, give us a call today. We can help you through this journey from diagnosis to treatment, call 1-877-321-8452.
