Life | Prostate Cancer. What every black man should know? |
| Written by urbanlife.se |
| Tuesday, 05 May 2009 00:00 |
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We’ve known for nearly a decade that black men are more at risk from prostate cancer than white men. Prostate cancer claims the lives of tens of thousands of men of all nationalities and ethnic groups annually. But those who are at greater risk, like men of Afro Caribbean descent, are advised to have tests when they are in their forties rather than wait until they reach their fifties which is the usual recommendation. There’s currently not much about this high risk group and what they can do to protect their health being publicised in Sweden, though regular check ups and screening are advised and readily available.Often men find the subject matter taboo and are reticent about attending screenings, viewing the subject matter as one they are uncomfortable with. Getting over initial embarrassment may make a big difference to the state of many men’s health. So all men are advised that it’s better to be a little red faced than suffer a potentially life threatening illness without proper diagnosis and treatment. Race and family medical history are important as well. Black men are said to be 61% more likely to develop prostate cancer in comparison to Caucasian men. And this risk is increased if there are instances of prostate cancer in the family, and it is especially increased if the disease was developed in relatively young men. Suffering with cancer is very difficult and emotionally draining and a great many patients find great comfort and strength from participating in support groups. There are a number of cancer charities worldwide and individual support networks online – it’s often vitally important for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer to be encouraged to communicate with others, something they often don’t do. The Internet offers invaluable support in such matters as these and for those men who still feel reticent about discussing the very personal subject that is prostate cancer the anonymity afforded them is valued. Alarmingly prostate cancer is the fourth most common form of tumour found in men globally, with around 400,000 new diagnoses made annually. Research and evidence shows that diet plays a significant role in prostate cancer cases with fruit being beneficial increased risks being linked to dairy products, meat products, and certain types of fats. Worryingly, prostate cancer doesn’t display symptoms in its early stages. It is most often diagnosed during routine checkups. This is why it is so important for men to go to regular screenings and health checks. Prostate cancer can take a fairly long time to take hold and it can also go undetected for as long as ten years. Men who experience any of the following symptoms are advised to seek medical advice.• The feeling of needing relief urgently • Difficulty starting to urinate • Difficulty finishing urination • A decrease in pressure during urination • Signs of blood or pus in the urine • More frequent visits to the bathroom at night
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