WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
His and Hers
RAISING AWARENESS OF PROSTATE AND OVARIAN CANCER
By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n
M
any cancers are shared by both males and females.
A few are more prevalent in those of certain
ethnicities, or occurrences increase based on
where you live.
Then there are a couple that belong just to the
women or just to the men.
More than 164,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United
States each year. The American Cancer Society lists prostate cancer
as the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer). About
one man in nine will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his
lifetime, mainly in older men, and more frequently in African-American
men. The average age of diagnosis is 66, but younger men can get it,
especially if it has been diagnosed in other family members.
But the good news is that it can often be treated successfully, though
it can also be fatal if detected too late. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, overall survival rates have drastically
increased over the last 20 years.
As with helping to reduce many cancers, the ACS recommends
eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits each day, staying physically
active and maintaining a healthy weight.
And like other cancers, finding it early can result in a better
outcome. Visiting your doctor on a regular basis and complying
with recommended screenings for prostate cancer can help
catch it at its earliest stages. Often, there are no early symptoms,
but if you notice indicators like painful, slow or more frequent
urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine, or pain in the
hips or back, a doctor’s visit can help identify the problem.
Many times, these same symptoms can also be an indicator for
something less serious than prostate cancer, but finding out from
a professional is the key.
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GAZELLE
Robert De Niro at
Cannes Film Festival
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Prostate Cancer