For Men's Health Month, it is important to spread awareness for prostate cancer prevention and health screening education.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men, after lung cancer.
For men aged 40-50 with risk factors such as family history of prostate cancer and African American race, consultation of a health care provider should be highly considered. The earlier someone is screened; the sooner early detection can occur.
Some symptoms to be aware of include:
- Back and pelvic pain
- Blood in urine and pain while urinating
- Changes in urine flow/frequency
Screening typically includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). Additional options are prostate MRIs and advanced blood/urine test.
"Prostate cancer is highly treatable when detected early," said Ryan Mullins, MD, board-certified urologist at AdventHealth Medical Group Urology at Calhoun. "For a healthy, thriving life, all men will need to consider a multitude of health screenings to stay up to date on their overall well-being."
Other health screenings include cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, depression, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV/STD, and hormone levels.
“Health screenings are offered to measure a person’s vitality, and they are a valuable tool to help become more proactive in your wellbeing,” said Dr. Mullins.
For more information on prostate cancer, please visit GAProstateCancerExperts.com.