What you need to know about prostate health

 

Prostate cancer is one of the most curable cancers.  When diagnosed in its early stages, prostate cancer can be treated with a high degree of success. However, prostate cancer presents few symptoms in its early stages and that’s why screening is so very important.

But the screening process is often avoided because many find it unpleasant.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and one of the themes in Pennsylvania for the campaign is “Don’t Fear the Finger.”  It’s not a slogan one would forget easily and that’s the idea.  Don’t Fear the Finger may raise eyebrows but it also is designed to reduce anxiety about prostate screening and remind men to get screened in the first place.

The American Cancer Society estimates almost 228,000 Americans will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015.  Some 28,000 will die of it.  African-American men are at higher risk for developing prostate cancer.

Appearing on this program are Kristine Warner, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition, Dr. Scott Owens with Urology of Central Pennsylvania and Vice Chairman of Surgery and Divisional Chief of Urology at PinnacleHealth, and prostate cancer survivor Retired Colonel James E. Williams Jr.

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