Well I can sigh with relief, the fashion show I co-chaired with Melissa my daughter is over! What a success it was, almost 500 tickets sold, the first event Melissa and I had ever attempted and the praise in emails or telephone calls keeps coming. Obviously we did not arrange this fashion show for praise but I believe everyone likes a thank you or a pat on the back indicating a job well done. The Runway for the Cure: Our Vision of Hope was a new initiative bringing awareness about Breast Cancer to the publics attention during Think Pink Week here in Ontario ,Canada. We certainly raised awareness the t.v. and newspaper picked up on the story and I believe that even more men and women now know that prevention and early detection really does help. I was listening to a news story this morning and evidently Prostate Cancer statistics is not looking good, in fact it overtakes Breast Cancer. Men everywhere take note - there is a test for men over the age of 50. Here are some facts I found today:
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
September 18-24, 2006
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men. Prostate cancer responds best to treatment when it is found and treated as early as possible. Knowing about possible risks, signs and symptoms can help alert you to anything that you should discuss with your doctor.
What causes prostate cancer?
There is no single cause of prostate cancer, but some factors appear to increase the risk of developing it:
- age – particularly after 65
- family history of prostate cancer
- African ancestry
- a diet high in fat, particularly animal fats and saturated fats.
Some men develop prostate cancer without any of these risk factors.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Prostate cancer is generally slow-growing and may not cause any symptoms for years. Symptoms appear once the tumour enlarges the prostate or spreads to other organs. Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
- a decrease in the size and force of your urinary stream (weak, interrupted flow)
- difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
- an urgent need to urinate
- frequent urination during the day and especially at night
- the inability to urinate
- a sense of incompletely emptying the bladder
- burning or pain during urination
- pain during ejaculation
- blood in your urine or semen.
Having these signs and symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. They could be caused by other health problems, so see your doctor to be sure.
Finding prostate cancer early
Health care professionals do not agree on the effectiveness of screening for prostate cancer. Studies are underway to determine the benefits of testing men using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE).The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that men over the age of 50 discuss with their doctor the potential benefits and risks of the prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE) so that they can make informed decisions about having the tests. Men at higher risk because of family history or those of African ancestry should discuss the need for testing at an earlier age.
Awareness is crucial for any challenge in our lives, but paricularly a health challenge, do not be scared to seek medical help!
Trek my Bear of Hope actually got lost at the Fashion Show, I believed he had been bear-napped again, but fortunately I found out he had been put into someones bag by mistake and once the person realised he belonged to me he was returned, much to my relief. Trek is my Company Director as he keeps me company in my home office. Well that is all for today, I will be back.
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