DuPage Health Dept. says 'Be a healthy man and get tested for prostate cancer'

DUPAGE COUNTY—September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the DuPage County Health Department reminds men that with early detection and the many new treatment options available, the five-year survival rate for men with prostate cancer is 99 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, following skin cancer, and it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths.

Men between the ages of 50 and 75 years and men older than 45 who have a family history of prostate cancer may want to consider getting annual prostate exams. African-American men have the highest incidence for prostate cancer and are therefore highly recommended to be screened annually.

Screenings can detect the disease in its early stages, allowing for better treatment options and longer survival rates with early diagnosis. A prostate screening is relatively simple and takes about 15 minutes with a primary care physician or urologist.

The American Cancer Society recommends men make an informed decision with their physician about the benefits and risks of testing. For those who choose to be screened, the ACS recommends they have the PSA test with or without a rectal exam. How often they are tested will depend on their PSA level.

The screening involves a physical exam and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which, when used together, can provide early diagnosis. The advancements in treatments and technology used to treat prostate cancer have improved a great deal in the past 10 years.

For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow us on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook.