Movember Means More than Macho Mustaches: Part 1 – Prostate Cancer

For most men, the only time of the year when they even think about their prostate is when they have their annual physical. The procedure to check the prostate is necessary, but a tad bit uncomfortable to bear. Ok – very uncomfortable.

But what’s even more uncomfortable to bear is the fact that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime – that’s about 240,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S.

What’s staggering is that adds up to one new diagnosis every 2.2 minutes.

Although the disease usually occurs in men in their late 60’s, it still claims the lives of nearly 30,000 American men each year. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer – behind lung cancer.

One of the most startling facts about prostate cancer is that men don’t experience any symptoms. Luckily, there is a high cure rate when prostate cancer is caught in its earlier stages. So, is there anything you can do to prevent prostate cancer? Not really. But certain lifestyle and diet changes can help maintain prostate health.

Here are a few suggestions to keep the prostate at its peak performance level:

Choose a low-fat diet
Cook with plant-based fats
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Add more omega-3 rich fish
Drink green tea
Add soy to your diet
Limit alcohol
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise as often as possible

But no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, make sure to get a complete annual physical and request that your doctor performs a digital exam and blood tests. These determine how healthy your prostate is.

While you’re there, discuss your specific prostate cancer risks with your doctor. Remember, early detection and lifestyle changes can help save your life.

In the Part 2 of the series, we’ll feature testicular cancer and how to check for it.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-key-statistics

http://us.movember.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer-prevention/MC00027

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