If you are a man between the ages of 55 and 69, September is a good time to schedule a prostate screening, one that includes both a PSA blood test and prostate examination.
Consider the numbers: Prostate cancer is the most common genitourinary cancer treated by a urologist and the most common solid organ cancer among men in the US. Approximately one man in eight will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, and one in 41 will die from this disease. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that there will be 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in 2023, and 34,700 deaths.
You are not a number, so understand your risk: African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, as are men with a strong family history of prostate cancer – especially multiple first- degree male relatives who were diagnosed at a young age.
Ask your doctor about screening recommendations, prostate cancer diagnosis, and treatment options. For more information, visit the American Cancer Society website.
