One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. With September being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, now’s the perfect time to understand more about the second most common form of cancer among American men.
Risk Factors
Some of the highest risk factors for prostate cancer include:
Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as men grow older.- Race: African-American men have a higher risk of developing and dying from the disease.
- Family History: Men with a close family member, such as a father, uncle or brother, diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 have a greater risk.
- Diet: Eating foods that are high in animal fats increases the risk.
Symptoms
In its early stages, prostate cancer may have no signs or symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your primary care provider about screening options. The following symptoms may indicate a more advanced form of the cancer. Contact your provider if these symptoms persist:
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the urine stream
- Blood in the urine
- Blood in the semen
- Bone pain
- Losing weight without trying
- Erectile dysfunction
Screening
There are two screening tests for prostate cancer: a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam. Before any screening begins, the American Cancer Society recommends that men first discuss their options with their healthcare provider in order to make an informed choice. This discussion should take place at:
- Age 50 for men who are at average risk
- Age 45 for men who are at high risk: African-Americans and men with a first-degree relative (father, uncle or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65
- Age 40 for men who are at even higher risk: Have more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer before age 65
Marketing Application
Informative content about prostate health provides a perfect opportunity for hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers to raise awareness about the wide range of health services available for men. Primary care providers, internal medicine specialists and urologists are appropriate medical specialists to promote this awareness. This type of messaging provides an important public service and creates an opportunity to direct men to their primary care providers. Effective marketing tools might include social media, digital media and print in tandem with a strong call to action to learn more or schedule an appointment.
About Brentwood Communications, Inc.
Brentwood Communications specializes in healthcare marketing. Through our monthly AdBank subscription service, thousands of field-tested marketing materials — including content related to prostate cancer and men’s health — are available and can be easily customized to reflect your hospital or clinic’s existing brand.
Click here to discover more about AdBank and how Brentwood Communications specializes in providing marketing support for non-urban hospitals.
Brentwood Communications also helps hospitals stay in touch with their communities through an informative and cost-effective digital and printed magazine called My Hometown Health, a powerful tool to help promote better health and raise awareness of key services available at the hospital. Randy Owen, country music legend and lead singer for Alabama, is featured in the Summer 2021 magazine. Randy shares his personal health struggles and talks about music, migraines and vertigo.
Brentwood Communications makes creating and publishing a customized, local community health magazine easy and convenient. Click here to learn more, or contact us.
