/24-7PressRelease/ - DENVER, CO, April 25, 2008 - The following is a statement highlighting key findings from the Prostate Cancer Education Council's (PCEC) 2007 Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW) final report.
Each year for one week in September, the PCEC organizes hundreds of free or low cost screening sites for men across the country. Most recently, from September 16-22, 2007, more than 125,000 men participated in the screening program. Screening is the only way to detect prostate cancer in its early stages because there are no early warning signs or symptoms. If detected early, prostate cancer is often treatable.
The PCEC compiled a report of PCAW 2007 participants' demographic information, urinary symptoms, sexual health history, testosterone symptoms, medications, digital rectal exams (DRE) and results, prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test results, total testosterone blood test results and total cholesterol blood test results.
"Since PCAW's inception, nearly 60 percent of new prostate cancer cases have been discovered when they are still localized and potentially curable," said Wendy Poage, Executive Director, Prostate Cancer Education Council. "The report compiled each year from this event is important because it provides us with a better understanding of who's taking an interest in their prostate health, how much they know about prostate cancer and what decisions they would make when faced with the possibility of health problems."
Key demographic information about PCAW 2007 participants include:
• 87 percent of those screened were over the age of 41
• 77 percent white; 17 percent African American
• 43 percent don't smoke; 27 percent do smoke
• 43 percent exercise 2-3 times per week
• 25 percent have had prostate cancer; 14 percent have a father with history of prostate cancer
Key report findings include:
• 61 percent know "a little" about prostate health; 20 percent know nothing about prostate health
• 26 percent would choose surgery if diagnosed with localized prostate cancer; 18 percent would choose "watchful waiting"
• 30 percent had no DRE in the past 3 years
• 58 percent of those who had an abnormal DRE or PSA test did not have a follow-up exam
• 17 percent had a biopsy as a follow-up to their DRE, which was positive for cancer
The PCEC recommends keeping a list of your blood test results over the years because noticing a slight increase or change in your results over time may help your doctor recognize the development of prostate cancer years before it would normally be diagnosed.
In 2008, PCAW occurs September 14-20. For more information about prostate cancer or screening events in your area, please visit http://www.prostateconditions.org.
To receive a copy of the full report, please contact Heather Huhman at heather@jonespa.com or 202-742-5259.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men. With a one in six lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, estimates for 2008 indicate that more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed in the United States, and nearly 28,700 will die from the disease. African American men are twice as likely to get prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease. The second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer, prostate cancer is often treatable if detected early. More information about prostate health is available at http://www.prostateconditions.org.
About the Prostate Cancer Education Council
A national organization committed to men's health, the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men's health issues. The Council - comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates - aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. More information is available at http://www.prostateconditions.org.
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