Prostate Cancer Awareness for Senior Men

Since taking on the task of developing this web site, I have found myself completely consumed with an interest in anything that might remotely relate to senior issues.  It doesn’t particularly matter to me if the subject matter is relevant to issues regarding men or women.  I am fascinated and equally interested in it all.  

Sometimes my time doesn’t allow me to do the research and writing that I would like to do, so when I find myself in that predicament I look for alternative ways of gathering my information.  One of the alternative ways that I have recently enjoyed is using my driving time to listen to books on tape. 

Recently, I picked up a tape titled Man to Man, written and read by Michael Korda.  This tape is an account of one man’s struggle, both physically and emotionally, with prostate cancer.  Mr. Korda gives a wonderfully open and informative account of his battle with this underdiscussed cancer.  As a prostate cancer survivor, Mr. Korda discusses everything from his initial PSA results, their rise, and his eventual discovery that he had prostate cancer; the symptoms he experienced both before and during his cancer; the denial that he and many men face, which too often delay early detection; his fears; his medication experiences and their side effects; his doctors and a patient’s needs to understand the variety of treatments available and to be an active participant in that treatment; his surgeries and their side effects; and his newfound hope for a quality, full life as a prostate cancer survivor. 

 Listening to this tape encouraged me to further my research on the subject of prostate cancer.  According to www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men.  In 2006, 234,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 27,000 men will die.  It really surprised me to learn that a man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime than a woman is with breast cancer.  

There are certain  predisposing factors that might increase a man’s likelihood of developing this type of cancer, such as age, race, and family history.  For example, under the age of 40, a man has a 1 in 10,000 chance of developing prostate cancer.  Not terribly bad odds, one might think; however, those odds climb exponentially with advancing age.  When a man is between the ages of 60-69, the chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer jump to 1 in 14. 

As with most cancers, the earlier detection is made, the more likely a positive outlook for recovery, so it is very important that men be aware of possible physical symptoms that might appear which could signal early trouble.  Symptoms are not always present and may often mimic other illnesses, but it would be prudent to be watchful for symptoms such as: