Instead of another set of grill tools or yet another tie, a more meaningful gift for Dad this Father’s Day would be to encourage him to get checked for prostate cancer. So say experts at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ).
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, (skin cancer is now the #1) and the second leading cause of cancer death in males. It is estimated that approximately 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer will occur in the United States this year, with 27,000 deaths. African American men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
The good news is that if detected and treated early, the chances of survival are nearly 100 %.
Screening consists of a digital rectal examination and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
Most healthy men have PSA levels under 4 ng/mL of blood. The chance of having prostate cancer goes up as the PSA level goes up.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men, especially those with several family members who have had prostate cancer at a young age, should consider screening at age 40. African Americans should begin screening at 45 and most other men at age 50.
Men who choose to be tested and have a very low PSA may only need to be retested every 2 years, whereas they may be tested yearly if their PSA result is higher.
So play it safe this Father’s Day and give your Dad the best gift of all – his health.
SRxA's Word on Health 