Some women don’t take prostate cancer very seriously, thinking it’s a mens issue and it isn’t something that they need to be concerned with. Still, if you have a man in your family, it’s definitely something you need to be aware of. Most guys don’t look forward to the birthday that makes them old enough to need regular prostate examinations. It’s not a good time, but they could save your life by catching the cancer in its early stages. Prostate cancer is the second most popular cancer in American men, second only to skin cancer. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be deadly.
Though it’s a mens issue because it doesn’t affect women, prostate cancer can have devastating effects on a family. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in his lifetime, but since nine out of ten of the time it’s caught in a local or regional area it’s not extremely deadly. However, if it has spread to locations like the bone it becomes increasingly more difficult to treat. One in thirty five men will die as a result of prostate cancer. Still, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 27,000 men will die of prostate cancer in the year 2007.
While the statistics may be scary, at least there’s hope. Prostate cancer is one of the cancers that is easiest to catch with regular doctors visits and examinations. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will make you less likely to get cancer during your lifetime, as well as help prevent heart attacks, strokes and a slew of other ailments that are considered a mens issue. It’s always best to refrain from smoking or using smokeless tobacco, exercise regularly and eat a well balanced diet. As long as you’re aware of the symptoms of prostate and other cancers, you can take an active step in making sure if you do get cancer, it’s caught in an early stage.