In case you missed it, September was prostate cancer awareness month. While it’s great to raise awareness for an entire month, we believe this topic deserves attention year round since there are early signs and specific risk factors to be aware of, including:
- Heredity. If you have a close family member who has prostate cancer, the chance that you will have it is much greater.
- Race. African-Americans have a much higher prostate cancer rate than Caucasians and Asians.
- Diet. If you’ve enjoyed a diet high in animal fats and low in fruits and vegetables, or if you are obese, your chance at having prostate cancer is much higher.
- Lifestyle. Less-active men are at a higher risk, according to numerous studies.
Early signs aren’t conclusive, but should give you a good hint that it’s time to be tested. They include:
- Midnight trips to the bathroom. A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, could point to a prostate problem.
- A weak stream, or trouble going. Difficulty starting or maintaining a strong stream while peeing is another warning sign, as is interrupted flow “” having to stop and start numerous times until you feel your bladder’s empty.
- Pain or burning when you pee.
- Dark urine. Darker urine may just mean that you need to do a better job of hydrating, but it could also mean there’s blood in your urine, which is a major flare that something’s wrong.
- Sexual problems. Trouble maintaining an erection or painful ejaculation are another sign that you may have a prostate problem.
The prognosis for prostate cancer treatment is good, provided it’s caught early enough, so it’s good to keep these risk factors and warning signs in mind.
Awareness is good, but vigilance is better. See your doctor if you even suspect you may have a problem.