It’s a topic that no one WANTS to talk about but we really need to start taking prostate cancer seriously if we hope to have any chance of catching it as early as possible. I was shocked to hear that more than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year – that’s 129 men every day. Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 11,500 men every year.If that doesn’t hit home then let me tell you that men, in general, have a 1 in 8 chance of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime however black men having a 1 in 4 chance which is considerably higher. The risk increases for black men over the age of 45 and if there is a family history of the illness.
Those are shocking statistics yet you may be surprised to learn that ethnic minorities are less likely to utilize the numerous health services such as GPs when it comes to diagnosing cancer and diabetes, among other illnesses. This may be due to less confidence in seeking help due to poorer experiences of using health services than their white counterparts. The idea of losing pride or general fear of diagnosis is also a contributing factor too with this specific type of cancer unfortunately often being a taboo subject in many households.
These are alarming numbers therefore we felt it only right that we help to identify any symptoms that may be associated with prostate cancer as a large percentage of our listeners come from ethnic minority groups.
The 5 warning signs that you may have prostate cancer are as follows:
- A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation.
- Frequent urination, particularly at night.
- Difficulty stopping or starting urination.
- Sudden erectile dysfunction.
- Blood in urine or semen.
If you or someone you care about are experiencing these symptoms then we implore you visit your local GP for further advice. There is also a helpful evaluation quiz provided by www.prostatecymru.com.
You may also wish to inquire with your GP about a possible PSA test as most men in early stages of prostate cancer often have no symptoms at all.
“The PSA test is a blood test to help detect prostate cancer. But it’s not perfect and will not find all prostate cancers. The test, which can be done at a GP surgery, measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein made only by the prostate gland. Some of it leaks into your blood, but how much depends on your age and the health of your prostate. There’s currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK because the PSA test is not always accurate.” – NHS
Researchers don’t completely understand the relationship between diet and prostate cancer prevention, but studies suggest that certain eating habits may help such as:
– Reduce fat intake. Eat less trans fats and saturated fats
– Eat more fruits and vegetables
– Add green tea and soy
– Avoid charred meat.
Along with poor diet, other preventable causes include:
– Poor weight management (obesity)
– Smoking
– Alcohol
– Eating a low fibre diet (unless otherwise instructed to do so by your practitioner)
We hope this information has been useful to you for future reference and that this article is not too morbid. Thank you for supporting AFRO*DISIAC in all we do and please take the time to look after yourselves as there is only one of you.
I’ll leave you with this upbeat tune from The Specials and hope you have a great weekend!
Written & Researched by Max Dervan
