September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
This month is Prostate awareness month. It’s important that we are aware – in particular men of this disease. 18,000 men this year will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The best chance of surviving this disease is to detect it early. Finding it early means there are more treatment options and the chances of survival are greatest. It’s important for men of all ages to know what they can do to help find prostate cancer early.
Prostate awareness
How does the Prostate develop? This cancer develops when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow more quickly than in the normal prostate, forming a malignant tumor. The prostate is a small gland that sits below the bladder near the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, which is the passage in the penis through which urine and semen pass. It is generally a slow-growing disease and men who have low-grade prostate cancer live for many years without symptoms. However, having a high grade of this disease spreads quickly and can be lethal.
Three Important Facts – (ref: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia)
- In Australia, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men
- Approximately 3,300 Australian men die of this cancer each year
- More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer
Symptoms
Men in the early stages of this disease may have no symptoms. But during the later stages, some symptoms might include:
- Feeling the frequent or sudden need to urinate
- Finding it difficult to urinate (for example, trouble starting or not being able to urinate when the feeling is there or poor urine flow)
- Discomfort when urinating
- Finding blood in urine or semen
- Pain in the lower back, upper thighs, or hips.
It’s important to go and visit your doctor who will do a blood test and/or physical examination to check the health of the prostate. Early prevention means better chances of fighting this disease. Prostate cancer has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers, with 95% of men likely to survive five years or more. About 220,000 Australian men are alive today after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
For more information on the disease go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Chiro & Sports Med
Our chiropractors at Chiro & Sports Med are committed to providing chiropractic solutions to address your unique needs. Whether you are experiencing an irritated nerve, bulging disc, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, headaches, or even muscular tightness and tension. You may be searching for pain relief after an accident or experiencing an injury. Our mission is to help reduce or eliminate pain and to prevent future problems and injuries. Above all, we are here to improve your quality of life, well-being, and ability to live an active healthy lifestyle.
