News: Getting the Word Out About Prostate Cancer

September 5, 2008
Gone are the days when cancer was a taboo subject talked about behind closed doors in hushed tones. Today, thanks to awareness campaigns, more and more people are finding out about different cancers and how they can be prevented, detected, and treated. Certain kinds of cancers are still hard for some people to discuss.

Case and point: Prostate cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, prostate cancer is the most common cancer (after skin cancer) affecting men in the United States. In fact, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.

Talking openly about a cancer that can affect part of a man’s reproductive system is not easy. The Coastal Health District wants to change that by getting the word out about prostate cancer.

“September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and we want residents in the Coastal Health District to start talking about this disease to promote awareness of it,” said Coastal Health District Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Director, Cristina Gibson. “The more people talk about it the better the chances that more men will get tested.”

Although the cause of prostate cancer is not known, there are some groups of men that are at higher risk for the disease including men 65 and older, men with a family history of the disease, and African-American men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all men over age 50 get screened annually. However, the ACS also recommends that men at high-risk for the disease (African-American men and men with one or more first-degree relatives diagnosed before age 65) should begin testing at age 45. Men at even higher risk, due to multiple first-degree relatives affected at an early age, should begin testing at age 40.

There are two ways to screen for prostate cancer. The first method is the digital rectal exam (DRE). The DRE is a quick way for the doctor to check the prostate for any abnormalities. The second method is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The PSA test involves drawing blood and testing the PSA levels. If the PSA level is high, it’s likely there may be a problem.

“Both screening methods for prostate cancer are quick and easy,” said Gibson. “But more important, finding and treating prostate cancer early can help save lives.”

Close to 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and about 30,000 will die from the disease. The Bryan County Health Department wants to do their part to lower those numbers.

It all starts with a conversation.

“We want wives to talk to their husbands and sons to talk to their fathers about prostate cancer,” said Gibson. “If we can open the lines of communication, we can start making a positive difference.”

Several Coastal Health District county health departments will host prostate cancer lunch and learn educational sessions. Information on prostate cancer will be presented and a light lunch will be served. The sessions are free and open to the public.

Bryan County Health Department, Friday, October 3
Pembroke Clinic, 430 Ledford Street
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Richmond Hill Clinic, 9665 Ford Avenue
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Camden County Health Department, Friday, September 12
Kingsland Clinic, 600 North Charles Gilman Jr. Avenue
1-2 p.m.

Chatham County Health Department, Tuesday, October 7
Eisenhower Clinic, 1395 Eisenhower Drive
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Glynn County Health Department, Monday, September 15
Glynn County Health Department, 2747 4th Street in Brunswick
Noon – 1 p.m.
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Long County Health Department, Friday, September 19
Long County Health Department, 57 North Macon St. in Ludowici
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

McIntosh County Health Department, Friday, September 19
McIntosh County Health Department, 3510 Highway 57 in Townsend
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/news/getting_the_word_out_about_pro.php