September Mindfulness: Prostate & Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Since proactive care is our priority, we’re participating in both Prostate Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this September. Awareness for these conditions is critical for early detection and supporting those already diagnosed, especially because prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer in American men and ovarian cancer is the deadliest reproductive cancer in American women.

Prostate Cancer

As the most common cancer in American men besides skin cancer, prostate cancer affects 1 in 9 men in their lifetime. Several factors can put men at risk, including old age, ethnicity (especially African Americans), family history, geography, and genetics. Prostate cancer can be detected by screenings such as DREs (digital rectal examinations) and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests. Fortunately, most men with prostate cancer do not die from the disease.

Ovarian Cancer

1 in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her lifetime, but only 1 in 108 diagnosed women will die from the disease. Half of diagnosed women are 63 or older, and unlike prostate cancer, ovarian cancer is more common in white females than in African American females. Risk factors can be similar to those of prostate cancer, including family history and old age, but also include obesity, fertility treatment, smoking, late childbirth, and post-menopause hormone therapy. Recognizing the warning signs of ovarian cancer is especially important since there is no reliable form of screening. However, the rate of ovarian cancer diagnoses has decreased over the past 20 years thanks to medical advancements and other factors.

Stay Mindful

Although early prostate cancer usually doesn’t exhibit symptoms, more advanced stages can include trouble urinating, bloody urine, weakness in the lower body, or pain in the back, hips, or chest. Notable symptoms of ovarian cancer can include bloating, trouble eating, frequent urination, or pain in the pelvis and abdomen. Proactive MD is committed to catching and monitoring conditions like these early through assessments like the Proactive Health Review. Once need for treatment arises, we address as much as we can through broad-scope primary care or utilize our partnership with Edison Healthcare to ensure timely, world-class specialist care. Please reach out to your Health Center staff if you have any questions about symptoms or would like more information on cancer prevention.

Sources:

• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about.html
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about.html