September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Prostate cancer
is the second most common cancer among men in the world and the second leading cause of death from cancer in American men.
Accelerating the world’s most promising prostate cancer research is the mission of The Prostate Cancer Foundation.
· While the majority of cases are diagnosed before the cancer has begun to spread outside the prostate gland (metastasized), about 1 in 20 men will have prostate cancer that has advanced at the time of diagnosis.
Nearly all these men with advanced prostate cancer will show evidence of bone metastases, which cause debilitating pain for 80 percent of men affected and are ultimately associated with decreased survival. Everyday symptoms resulting from these bone metastases, such as sleep disruption, inability to complete household chores or the daily use of over-the-counter pain medications or NSAIDs, can be an indicator of disease progression. Unfortunately, many men living with advanced prostate cancer tend to ignore these symptoms, which, in addition to being a daily disruption, can have devastating consequences in the long-run.
But something can be done: Patients and caregivers are encouraged to flag symptoms or changing symptoms, and recognize them as a warning sign that the disease may be progressing. Patients who consult their doctors immediately can, with expert guidance, consider treatment options that 1) address the bone metastases that cause many of these symptoms, and 2) potentially prolong survival.
The Prostate Cancer Research Institute provides information and resources for men and their loved ones battling prostate cancer.
