September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Why is this important?

In the U.S. the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer tends to keep increasing (241,000 this year) while the number of prostate cancer deaths is slightly decreasing (28,000 this year). This is not just random. Better health choices, earlier diagnosis, more treatment choices, and a series of new drugs are part of the process. About 2.5 million American men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are alive today (I'm one of them, thank goodness).

It all costs money, depends on new drugs, clinical trials participation, and the willingness of men to be screened. None of these factors comes easy. Men are traditionally reluctant to go to their doctor.

There are numerous organizations supporting prostate cancer patients, research, fundraising, and increasing awareness of the need for men to be screened. You can learn a lot more by checking out some of these organizations: ZERO, UsToo, Blue Cure, Prostate Cancer Foundation, National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society. There are many more.

It would be great to see a cure for prostate cancer--and a lot of other cancers, too. The more we all know, the more we get involved, the more likely there will be progress in cures and finding better  treatments.

axman