Report Men Need to Know More About Prostate Health

Released on: April 23, 2008, 12:57 pm

Press Release Author: Prostate Cancer Education Council

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: The Prostate Cancer Education Council released a statement
highlighting key findings from its 2007 Prostate Cancer Awareness Week final report.


Press Release Body: DENVER, CO - The following is a statement highlighting key
findings from the Prostate Cancer Education Council's (PCEC) 2007 Prostate Cancer
Awareness Week (PCAW) final report.

Each year for one week in September, the PCEC organizes hundreds of free or low cost
screening sites for men across the country. Most recently, from September 16-22,
2007, more than 125,000 men participated in the screening program. Screening is the
only way to detect prostate cancer in its early stages because there are no early
warning signs or symptoms. If detected early, prostate cancer is often treatable.

The PCEC compiled a report of PCAW 2007 participants' demographic information,
urinary symptoms, sexual health history, testosterone symptoms, medications, digital
rectal exams (DRE) and results, prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test results,
total testosterone blood test results and total cholesterol blood test results.

"Since PCAW's inception, nearly 60 percent of new prostate cancer cases have been
discovered when they are still localized and potentially curable," said Wendy Poage,
Executive Director, Prostate Cancer Education Council. "The report compiled each
year from this event is important because it provides us with a better understanding
of who's taking an interest in their prostate health, how much they know about
prostate cancer and what decisions they would make when faced with the possibility
of health problems."

Key demographic information about PCAW 2007 participants include:
. 87 percent of those screened were over the age of 41
. 77 percent white; 17 percent African American
. 43 percent don't smoke; 27 percent do smoke
. 43 percent exercise 2-3 times per week
. 25 percent have had prostate cancer; 14 percent have a father with history of
prostate cancer

Key report findings include:
. 61 percent know "a little" about prostate health; 20 percent know nothing about
prostate health
. 26 percent would choose surgery if diagnosed with localized prostate cancer; 18
percent would choose "watchful waiting"
. 30 percent had no DRE in the past 3 years
. 58 percent of those who had an abnormal DRE or PSA test did not have a follow-up exam
. 17 percent had a biopsy as a follow-up to their DRE, which was positive for cancer

The PCEC recommends keeping a list of your blood test results over the years because
noticing a slight increase or change in your results over time may help your doctor
recognize the development of prostate cancer years before it would normally be
diagnosed.

In 2008, PCAW occurs September 14-20. For more information about prostate cancer or
screening events in your area, please visit www.prostateconditions.org.

To receive a copy of the full report, please contact Heather Huhman at
heather@jonespa.com or 202-742-5259.

About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men.
With a one in six lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, estimates for 2008
indicate that more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed in the United States, and
nearly 28,700 will die from the disease. African American men are twice as likely to
get prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease. The second leading
cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer, prostate cancer is
often treatable if detected early. More information about prostate health is
available at www.prostateconditions.org.

About the Prostate Cancer Education Council
A national organization committed to men's health, the Prostate Cancer Education
Council (PCEC) is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of
men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate
cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment
options, as well as other men's health issues. The Council - comprised of a
consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer
advocates - aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that
will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. More information is
available at www.prostateconditions.org.

# # #

Web Site: http://www.prostateconditions.org

Contact Details: Heather Huhman
202-742-5259
heather@jonespa.com

  • Printer Friendly Format
  • Back to previous page...
  • Back to home page...
  • Submit your press releases...
  •