Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

With all that we do at Planned Parenthood to advance women’s reproductive health and rights, we like to take the time every so often to remind men that we’re here for you, too.  And as they say, there’s no time like the present – especially when the present falls right in the middle of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer is both the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, affecting over 220,000 men and claiming the lives of nearly 30,000 each year.  A few weeks ago, President Obama issued a proclamation dedicating the month of September to increasing public understanding of the disease. He said:

“We reaffirm our support for prostate cancer patients and survivors, and commend health care providers, advocates, and researchers for their dedication and perseverance. Our combined efforts to raise awareness and bolster research will help save lives.”

To that end, we encourage all men to take prevention into their own hands by getting educated about the risks and learning how to protect their health. Groups with higher rates of prostate cancer include men who are African-American, men who are over the age of 50, or men who have a family history of the disease. To all the men out there, if any of these factors apply to you, or if you experience any of the common prostate cancer symptoms, make an appointment with your health care provider or find your local Planned Parenthood health center here to get screened.

Learn more about the men’s health services at Planned Parenthood by clicking here.

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