Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

About 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.  Valley Baptist Healthy System wants to educate and provide some helpful tips to reduce your risk and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), but can often be treated successfully when detected early on.  Prevention and understanding your risk factors are the best way to prevent prostate cancer.

Ways to reduce your risk:

• Speak with your doctor to discuss potential risk factors.
• East at least 2 ½ cups of a wide variety of vegetables each day.
• Maintain a physically active lifestyle.
• Stay at a healthy weight.

It is recommended, in general, that prostate cancer screenings begin around age 50 if you have no risk factors.  If you have a family history of prostate, ovarian, breast, colon, or pancreatic cancer, consider screening starting in your early 40’s.  Other risk factors, if you have African ancestry, consider screening starting at around 45.

Early prostate cancer typically does not cause any symptoms. Advanced cases, however, convey symptoms including:

• Problems urinating, including a weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on spinal cord.

“We encourage all men to begin to have conversations with their doctors at a younger age so they can discuss risk factors that may be present,” said Patty Vega, RN, Nursing Director of Oncology Services for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.  “The best way to prevent prostate cancer is to know your risks and be proactive with your health.”

September is recognized as National Prostate Cancer Awareness month to encourage prostate screening and understanding your risk factors.