PCEC - Prostate Conditions Education Council
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PCAW Statistics

SEPTEMBER IS PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week 2012

September 16-22, 2012

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) 2012 will be held during the 3rd week of September.  We have nearly 500 sites registered to administer free or low-cost prostate cancer health screenings around the country.  Most sites will be hosting their screenings during the Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, but a few are hosting them throughout the month. Please check our site finder to find a screening site near you or call the PCEC's Toll free number 1-800-353-4224.

This year PCAW falls during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  If you would like to move your screening event to before or after Rosh Hashanah, please feel free to do so as PCEC supports Screening Events, Health Fairs and Awareness Events year round! 

 

CHOOSE TO KNOW AND KNOW TO CHOOSE

The Prostate Conditions Education Council encourages men to Choose to Know and Know to Choose their PSA blood test value, just as they would their cholesterol or blood pressure.  Men should know that there are many choices and variables in determining if they need a prostate biopsy following a screening exam and that there are many treatment options, including surveillance of the disease, if prostate cancer is found.

  • Be informed of the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, biopsies and treatment options.
  • The decision for prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment should be discussed with a healthcare professional and should take into account risk factors and personal preferences.
  • A prostate cancer screening involves a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

AGE: Age is the greatest factor for developing prostate cancer.  In fact, over 64% of all prostate cancers diagnosed are in men over the age of 65. 

RACE/ETHNICITY: African American men have the highest risk of developing prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

FAMILY HISTORY: Your risk is higher if your father, or brother has had prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher in men from families with history of breast cancer.

DIET: A diet high in fat and low in healthy foods, being overweight with an elevated BMI may put you at a greater risk for cancer.

NATIONALITY: Prostate Cancer is more common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. 

2011 Prostate Cancer Statistics:

  •  Men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than any other major cancer.
  •  1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
  •  Nearly 34,000 men will dies from prostate cancer this year.
  •  Men over 50 have a 50% risk of developing an enlarged prostate.
  •  By the age of 80, nearly 90% of all men are diagnosed with an enlarged prostate.
  •  Every 3 minutes an American man finds out he has prostate cancer.
  •  Screening is the only way to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages.
  •  Since 1989, the PCEC has provided free screening to nearly 5 million men across the country for  prostate cancer.
  •  When detected early, the five-year prostate cancer survivor rate is nearly 100%.
  •  There have been more cases of prostate cancer diagnosed each year than breast cancer.

All data is the property of PCEC and may not be used for any purpose including reserach, marketing, advertising or data analysis without the express written consent of the PCEC.