September – National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we aren’t shy about men’s health, and we openly discuss many aspects of it. In fact, we’re so used to using words relating to men’s anatomy, that we don’t even think twice about it. It’s only when we hire a “newbie” (new team member) that we suddenly realize that our vocabulary can be somewhat shocking. Give them a week or two, and they’re right “in it” with us. September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. For us, that means it’s all about BEING AWARE and BEING INFORMED.
Each year, more than 29,000 men will die of this disease. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death of U.S. men. These statistics really frustrate us here, and it’s because of one simple thing that we just don’t understand:
Why is it that so many men refuse to have their doctors give them a quick 15-second digital exam?!
Why is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Important?
You see – here’s the thing: Diagnosed early enough, prostate cancer survival rates are super high!! At 10-years post diagnosis, 98% of men diagnosed early remain alive!! 98%!!
What’s more, undergoing a 45-minute (relatively painless) colonoscopy procedure can very possibly PREVENT prostate and colon cancer!
There are some things that all of us can do to slow down or PREVENT prostate cancer. Let’s go through a quick list of Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips, as follows:
7 Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips
- Maintaining a healthy diet. Healthy meaning meals high in fruits and vegetables, lien proteins (fish), whole grains (oatmeal, brown or wild rice, popcorn, wheat breads) unsaturated oils (olive or canola oil), and of course staying away from sugars and sodas.
2. Regular exercise – at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
3. Maintaining a healthy body weight – having a Body Mass Index (“BMI”) between 18.5 to 24.9. If you Google “BMI Calculator”, and type in your height and weight, the calculator will report your BMI. It’s that easy!
4. If you’re a smoker – QUIT! Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health.
5. Take a half aspirin (81 mg) every day. Easy, huh?!
6. Big surprise with this one – having a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 50. If you’ve never had one, please, please, please – schedule it today!
7. Having an annual checkup with your doctor, and that includes getting a digital prostate exam AND a PSA blood test (Prostate Screening Awareness).
Like we said – BE AWARE and BE INFORMED! Please – take this blog to heart. We truly care about your health, and just think… What if you were able to avoid surgery, all because your doctor was able to remove a few polyps during a colonoscopy?
Or, think of the peace of mind you’d have if your doctor gave you a quick digital exam and told you that your prostate feels normal? You wouldn’t have to worry, or worse yet – wonder.
So there’s just one more step after becoming aware and becoming informed… And that’s to take action now! Call your doctor and make that appointment! Take action to prevent!! Do it now!