Healthy RGV Issue 103 - What All Men Need to Know

COVER STORY · JUNE 2017
WHAT
ALL MEN
NEED TO
KNOW
Cancer affects men in all
walks of life and doesn’t
discriminate by age. One
in two men will develop
some type of cancer in his lifetime. Even for
cancers typically diagnosed in later years, like
lung cancer, prevention begins early.
The reluctance of many men to visit a doctor
or undergo annual physical examinations
prevents their best chances for early cancer
detection and effective treatment. Every year,
more than 300,000 men in the United States
and nearly 45,000 in Texas alone lose their
lives to cancer. A few of the most common
kinds of cancer among men are prostate
cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Lifestyle habits contribute to your future
health, so limiting risky behaviors and
jumpstarting good ones is extremely
important. If you’re a man, statistics indicate
you’re more likely to smoke, drink, and carry
excess weight, all of which increase cancer
risk.
You can take control of your health and
reduce your cancer risk by following some
simple guidelines.
GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR –
REGULARLY
There’s a certain bold stubbornness some
men tend to exude when someone — like
a spouse or loved one — suggests how to
spend their free time, not to mention seeing
a doctor. But your loved ones actually are
trying to save your life. You should establish
a relationship with your doctor and make
appointments for regular physical exams and
screenings.
NOT EVERY MAN GETS
PROSTATE CANCER
For most men, prostate cancer has the
highest awareness rate – and that’s a good
thing. It’s the third deadliest cancer in the
U.S. for men, and is often called “the silent
killer” because it often shows no symptoms.
However, a prostate cancer diagnosis is by no
means a death sentence, thanks to advanced
treatments and increasing awareness of
screening.
Men should discuss with their physicians
the risks and benefits of prostate cancer
screening to make an informed decision
about testing. Most men should consider
regular prostate screenings beginning at age
50. Men at high risk (African Americans and
men with a family history of prostate cancer
before age 65) should consider testing
beginning at age 45. Consider screening at
age 40 if more than one first-degree relative
is diagnosed before 65. Prostate screenings
can include:
• The prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
blood test measures levels of a protein
produced by the prostate. Higher PSA
levels indicate a higher likelihood you
have cancer but other reasons may
elevate PSA levels.
• The DRE (digital rectal exam) also tests
for prostate cancer.
AVOID TOBACCO
IN ANY FORM
Lung cancer is responsible for the most
cancer-related deaths in Texas. Only 15
percent of men lung cancer patients live
more than five years beyond their initial
diagnosis. Tobacco smoke is the most
important risk factor for lung cancer, as it is
thought to cause most lung cancer deaths.
The more a person is exposed to smoke, the
greater their risk of developing lung cancer.
22 HEALTHY MAGAZINE