September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
You’ve heard of No-Shave November or Movember? Men are encouraged to grow their hair out and not shave for 30 days during the month of November.
But why is this a thing?
It isn’t a way of boycotting hair salons or decreasing shave cream sales.
It is intended to raise awareness surrounding men’s health.
Male and female reproductive systems are different, and specific health concerns are more prevalent in one group or the other for this very reason.
Let’s get a head start on raising awareness by kicking it off early with Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September.
Whether you have a prostate or not, we encourage you to keep reading.
If you have a prostate, this relates to you directly, and it’s better to be informed than ignorant. If you do not have a prostate, chances are someone you care about does, so that you will benefit from basic knowledge about this topic.
So, what is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland about the size of a ping-pong ball. It resides within the groin area, specifically beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It plays a vital role in the male reproductive system because it supplies part of the fluid in your semen, which propels your sperm out of your body during those…happy times.
What is prostate cancer?
This is a type of cancer that begins in the prostate. Like all cancers, the cells begin to grow uncontrollably. Over time, these cancerous cells can form a tumor within the prostate or spread to nearby tissues and organs. The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown; however, the older you get, the more likely you are to develop prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers found in men. It is typically slow-growing and has a favorable prognosis when detected early.
The key to effectively treating prostate cancer is early detection.
Most people don’t enjoy going to the doctor, and when they do go, it’s because they can’t avoid it. We need to start shifting the idea surrounding medical visits from reactive to proactive. When you engage in regular check-ups and health screenings, you are more likely to detect issues like prostate cancer at an earlier stage so you can commence treatment. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams (DRE) are essential for monitoring prostate health and finding any potential issues.
ImageCare Radiology performs prostate MRIs in New Jersey to accommodate necessary prostate checks. Work with your healthcare provider to determine a screening schedule that fits your specific needs so you can be proactive about your prostate health.