Health Issue of the Month

What AA Men Need To Know About Prostate Cancer

What Is the Prostate? The prostate is a gland, about the size of a walnut, located under the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries urine and semen through the penis to the outside of the body. The prostate gland is found only in men. It produces semen, the liquid that carries the sperm when a man ejaculates.

What Is Prostate Cancer? Prostate cancer starts in the cells of the prostate gland. When a man has prostate cancer, the prostate cancer cells grow into a tumor. These cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

What Are The Symptoms of Prostate Cancer? The most common symptom of prostate cancer is no symptom at all.

Important Facts You Should Know About Prostate Cancer? Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men. Prostate cancer is widespread in the African American community. A man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 3 minutes. African American men need to get tested every year beginning with their 40th birthday. As you get older, your risk of prostate cancer increases. You should also be tested if you have a father or brother who has or has had prostate cancer. With early detection and treatment, your chances of surviving prostate cancer are greatly improved. Take time for the simple test that could save your life.

Where Do I Go For Treatment? California provides FREE prostate cancer treatment for low income men with no or little health insurance through a program called IMPACT: Improving Access, Counseling and Treatment for Californians with Prostate Cancer. You can receive prostate cancer treatment from IMPACT at many hospitals and doctors offices throughout California. IMPACT patients must use one of the doctors or hospitals that work with the Program. For more information about FREE treatment for prostate cancer, call 1-800-409-8252