What Is Prostate Cancer?
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, in hopes of increasing public awareness of the importance of prostate health and screenings, educating about risk factors and symptoms, and advocating for further research on prostate health issues.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 174,650 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed (4,060 in Alabama) and about 31,620 deaths from prostate cancer in the United States during the year 2019.

As with any type of cancer, there are several risk factors associated with prostate cancer, including family history, race, and diet, but the most common factor is age. Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. About six in ten cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 66.


While there are a lot of risk factors for prostate cancer, there are also good survival statistics associated with the disease. Survival rates for prostate cancer are very high. More than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
Five Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer
  1. A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation.
  2. Frequent urination, particularly at night.
  3. Difficulty stopping or starting urination.
  4. Sudden erectile dysfunction.
  5. Blood in urine or semen.
How to Lower Your Risk
There is no sure way to prevent prostate cancer since many risk factors such as age, race, and family history can't be controlled. But there are some things you can do that might lower your risk of developing prostate cancer.

  • Body weight - overweight or obese men have higher risk.
  • Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
  • Keep physically active.
  • Follow a healthy eating pattern, which includes a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and avoids or limits red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and highly processed foods.

Tests You May Need If You're Showing Signs
PSA Blood Test
Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)
MRI
Prostate Biopsy
Lymph Node Biopsy
CT Scan
Bone Scan
PET Scan
did you know
Men who have had prostate cancer have an increased risk of certain cancers, including:

  • Small intestine cancer
  • Soft tissue cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Thymus cancer
  • Melanoma of the skin


Men who are treated with radiation therapy also have a higher risk of:

  • Rectal cancer
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Mayor Cunningham to Recognize the ZERO Organization
In honor of those fighting against prostate cancer nationwide, Mayor Karyn Cunningham will be presenting a proclamation to the ZERO organization during the Regular Council meeting of September 13, 2021.

The ZERO organization is a leading nonprofit with the sole mission to end prostate cancer. According to their website, ZERO's vision is "Generation ZERO- the first generation of men free from prostate cancer."

Make sure to tune in to our meeting on Monday, September 13th at 6:30 pm to watch the presentations.
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