We live in a society that has built men up to believe they are–or must be–indestructible. With pressure to live up to this expectation, and present themselves to be so, it’s too often that men neglect important and life-saving practices, like regular health screenings, adopting holistic wellness practices, and communicating with both loved ones and care practitioners about their physical and emotional concerns.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the United States aside from non-melanoma skin cancer. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, after lung cancer, in the United States. September of each year is designated as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and it’s an important cultural moment where we not only acknowledge the dangers of prostate cancer specifically but also bring awareness to all of the different ways that men can take action to prevent it.
The most important step to preventing prostate cancer is screening. It’s imperative for men to visit their doctor yearly to get their annual preventive care check-up, as well as requesting a screening for prostate cancer. Screening options for prostate cancer include a digital rectal exam and a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The purpose of these is to catch the disease before it spreads and because of this, the five-year survival rate is 97.5% (AACR).
According to SEER, there are pre-existing factors to who should be more weary of prostate cancer. It is known to be more common in older men, men with a family history of prostate cancer, and African American men.
Other risk factors for prostate cancer include:
- Certain hormones
- Vitamin E
- Folic acid
- High intake of dairy and calcium
In the United States, about 12.8% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetimes. It is especially crucial for black men to be mindful of their health when it comes to prostate cancer and to take preventive measures, as they are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as other races.
As men, it’s important that we learn to have these conversations not only with our loved ones, but also with ourselves. When it comes to our health and survival, there’s no messing around. Find more helpful resources at the National Cancer Institute and ZERO Prostate Cancer.