African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than other men, are more likely to get prostate cancer at a younger age, and tend to have more advanced disease when it is discovered.”

What is the prostate? The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer is a serious disease where cells in the prostate grow out of control.

Symptoms that should cause you to see your doctor right away. They may be caused by prostate cancer or other conditions:

If you have any of the following symptoms, be sure to see your doctor right away:

• Difficulty starting urination.
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
• Urinating often, especially at night.
• Trouble emptying the bladder completely.
• Pain or burning during urination.
• Blood in the urine or semen.
• Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
• Painful ejaculation.

Remember, if you have any symptoms that concern you, please see your doctor or healthcare provider immediately.

Risk Factors: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, other than skin cancer.

African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than other men, are more likely to get prostate cancer at a younger age, and tend to have more advanced disease when it is discovered.

Other Risk factors for prostate cancer in the U.S.:

• The older a man gets, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer
• Having a family history of prostate cancer.

Screening

Early detection is Key! The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to find cancer early before it spreads and when it can be cured through treatment or successfully managed. Two tests commonly used to screen for prostate cancer are the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Test and the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). For more information about these two tests, visit https://www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer/screening/index.html and https://phenpsa.com/psa-prostate-cancer-early-detection-facts/

The CDC has the following recommendations about screening: https://www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer/screening/get-screened.html.

Call to Action: Talk to your doctor today about when you should get screened and how often!

Prevention

• Reducing fat intake
• Eating more fruits and vegetables
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting regular exercise
• Quitting smoking

These are just some things you can do to decrease your cancer risk.

Treatment

There are many treatment options for people with prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor about which treatment plan is best for you. Treatment options may vary based on the stage of the cancer, the patient's age, etc.

Sources: CDC, Prostate Health and PHEN, Prostate Health Education Network, Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Cancer Institute

For more information, visit:

PHEN, Prostate Health Education Network: https://phenpsa.com/. Education on how prostate cancer early detection screening for African American men and education saves lives! Treatment Options

CDC: information about the prostate and prostate cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer/about/index.html

Johns Hopkins: Prostate Cancer Prevention: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-prevention

National Cancer Institute: Treatment Options https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq#section/_142