September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Sept. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- President Barack Obama signed a proclamation declaring September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and pledged that his administration will continue promoting awareness of this illness and supporting prostate cancer research and treatment.

"September is the perfect time to increase public awareness of prostate cancer, focus on prevention, remind men about the importance of early screening, and support patients, survivors and their families," says Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, author Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life.

Most of us know someone who has been affected by this disease, which is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be more than 217,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the U. S. during 2010.

Of American men diagnosed with prostate cancer, about 80 percent have cancer that is localized in the prostate. Because of the high success rate in treating localized prostate cancer, there are more than 2 million prostate cancer survivors in the U.S., but many of these survivors must deal with treatment side effects such as E.D. and incontinence.

One in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. If a man has one close relative with prostate cancer, his risk doubles. With two close relatives, the risk increases five-fold. African Americans have a prostate cancer risk up to 60% higher than white males and they are twice as likely to die from the disease than white males.

Prostate cancer is most common in men age 55 or over, with an average age of 70 at the time of diagnosis. However, about one-third of newly diagnosed American prostate cancer patients are Baby Boomers in their mid forties to mid sixties. Many experts recommend that men begin screening tests at age 40.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., after lung cancer, with more than 30,000 deaths each year.

One way to show your support for prostate cancer awareness and education is by wearing a "conquer prostate cancer" wristband from Us TOO International, one of the leading prostate cancer support organizations. The wristband is available at http://www.ustoo.org/LeatherWristbands.asp

If you or someone you love has been affected by prostate cancer, visit http://conquerprostatecancernow.typepad.com for educational resources and sign up for free group support sessions by telephone or a free private prostate cancer coaching session. The topic for the September 16 free teleseminar is “Got Prostate Cancer? Become an Active Member of Your Healthcare Team!”

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Rabbi Ed Weinsberg is a prostate cancer survivor and patient healthcare educator with a doctorate in gerontology. He is the author of Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life, and is a member of AASECT, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. For more tips about coping with prostate cancer and its treatment side effects, download your free reports at the Conquer Prostate Cancer blog at www.ConquerProstateCancer.com and follow @ProstateCancer1 on Twitter.