If you are a man, or if you are a woman who has a special man in your life, here are some key statistics everyone should know about prostate cancer.
* There are more than 30 million men that suffer from some form of prostate condition that negatively affects their quality of life.
* It is now the most common form of cancer among all men, except skin cancer.
* The American Cancer Society estimates that the number of new diagnoses in the U.S. averages around 190,000 each year.
* And each year there are approximately 30,000 men that die from prostate cancer.
* Black men are 3 times more likely to have it than white men! And twice as likely to die from it!
These statistics are very alarming, and pretty grim. The bottom line with prostate cancer in black men is that they get it more, and they die from it more.
However, there is another statistic that is even more alarming!
* With early detection the survival rate of prostate cancer is well over 90%!
So the basic question is simply what group of statistics do you want to be in?
We know that a big part of the issue is a general lack of knowledge about this cancer. In fact, many men are honest enough to admit they are not even exactly sure of what the prostate is?
Basically the prostate is a small gland that is very similar in appearance, size, and the shape of a walnut. Even the medical profession is not 100% sure of everything that the prostate does, but one of the main functions for certain is that it helps produce, and store, semen.
It is located directly below the bladder and completely surrounds the urethra tube which carries urine out of your body. So it is a small gland that is located in an extremely delicate place in the male body.
Many in the medical profession agree that for such a small gland, it can cause very big problems for men. The prostate can develop cancer, and the questions are: Is it a slow growing cancer? Or could it be a fast growing cancer that will eventually spread throughout the body?
As long as the cancer cells stay, and are contained within the prostate, it presents few noticeable issues at all! Which is why, if it is an elderly man in his late 60s, or beyond, the doctor may decide to just monitor it and do nothing at all if it is showing no signs of growing, or spreading.
However, for younger men, there is simply an expectation of a lot more remaining years in life. Therefore waiting and monitoring is usually not an option.
If the cancer spreads outside the prostate it quickly affects all the other nearby organs. The reality now is that you have cancer throughout your body. Once this happens treatment options are very limited. So the key is early testing... early diagnoses... and early treatment!
And now we come to the question: Why is prostate cancer in black men higher than other men and nearly 3 times as high as white men? As usual there is research, and data, that shows there's a connection between prostate cancer and diet. Unhealthy eating habits, high saturated fats, low fruits and vegetables, etc. We've all been hearing this for decades.
But what is very interesting is that studies have shown in places like Africa, China, Japan, etc., where they eat the traditional diets of the areas, have very low occurrences of prostate cancer. However in those country's major cities where McDonalds, Pizza Huts, KFC, and other fast food chains have opened up, and people are eating a more American style diet, the prostate cancer rates have increased.
For some reasons, the medical profession seems reluctant to draw a direct connection. But we can all make our own conclusions from this.
So in America, for whatever the reasons are, the fact is that more black people are poor and subsequently eat a poor diet. And it's a part of the reason for more black men with prostate cancer.
Another reason, which most of us already know, is that men in general are more reluctant to go to a doctor or seek medical treatment. This is especially true for black men.
So they are least likely to go get check ups, annual exams, testing, screenings, etc. Typically men, and especially black men, won't go see a doctor until something becomes unbearable. And in the case of prostate cancer this is usually too late.
There is a very good indicator that all of this is true... and that is the Armed Forces. In the military everybody is required to have regular medical exams. People in the military also tend to eat a little better diet. And all across the board the occurrences of black men with prostate cancer is significantly lower in the military compared to black men and prostate cancer in the general society.
In conclusion the basic recommendations are similar to what we all already know. First, start eating healthier. Information for this can truly be found everywhere!
Second, if you are a black man over the age of 35 you should get tested for prostate cancer. The first step is a simple test called the PSA which is just a blood screening. All they will do for this test is simply draw some blood! There are many places in major communities in that offer this for free.
Info USA1 researches, compiles, analyzes and reports educational resources, and information nationwide for the everyday American consumer. For more information, and to obtain an education ebook guide for black men prostate cancer. Please visit our web page African American Prostate Cancer
