||| FROM MIKE HAMLETTE for US TOO FRIDAY HARBOR |||
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. More than 3.1 million men are living with prostate cancer in the U.S., and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. This year alone, the American Cancer Society forecasts that 288,300 men will be diagnosed, and 34,700 will die of the disease.
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in his lifetime. This number is 1 in 6 for Black / African American men, and 1 in 5 for military personnel.
The 5 year survival rate for prostate cancer that is caught early is nearly 100%. Late stage survival drops to 32%.
Screening is a simple blood test that measures PSA, and a physical exam. A close male relative who has been diagnosed, or a female relative with breast cancer can significantly increase risk.
Regular screening and understanding family risk can help identify the disease early and bring improved outcomes. Early detection saves lives.
The Us TOO Friday Harbor prostate cancer support group meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 6 PM at the Mullis Community Senior Center and on ZOOM, providing men and their families with fellowship, peer counseling and timely, personalized, unbiased and reliable information about prostate cancer, enabling informed choices about detection, treatment options, and quality of life after treatment.
Find a support group near you at: https://zerocancer.org/help-and-support/find-support-group
UPDATE: Group meetings are 4th Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Mullis Community Senior Ccnter and on ZOOM.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
