Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Remains High Among American Men
With a new diagnosis
every three minutes and more than 230,000 estimated
new cases expected in the United States this year
alone, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed
non-skin cancer among American men. Yet despite its
prevalence, prostate cancer and its associated treatment-related
side effects, including incontinence, remain topics
that are not often openly discussed.
The National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) has
partnered with Kimberly-Clark Corporation to encourage
men to learn the facts about the disease and its side
effects and make prostate cancer screening a part
of their annual health routine.
NPCC is the largest advocacy
organization dedicated to raising awareness about
prostate cancer, and Kimberly-Clark is a leading consumer
products company dedicated to helping people care
for themselves and their families. Together, the NPCC
and Kimberly-Clark encourage all men to:
* Know the facts about prostate
cancer (i.e., it afflicts one in six men annually);
* Recognize the signs and symptoms
associated with prostate cancer;
* Open the lines of communication
with their healthcare providers;
* Share their experiences with
their fathers, sons, brothers and friends;
* Get screened themselves if
over 50 -- younger if African American or with a family
history of the disease; and
* Get educated on what to expect
from treatment and beyond.
Through community outreach programs
such as the Drive Against Prostate Cancer (a mobile
screening vehicle reaching 10,000 men per year), NPCC
estimates that as much as 9 percent of American men
have prostate cancer or other urologic conditions.
“While doctors’
offices report that only about 4 percent of men exhibit
signs of prostate cancer and/or other urological problems,
we have found that number to be twice as high,”
says Jamie Bearse, NPCC’s Spokesman. “We
see this as an indication that local educational efforts
like the Drive Against Prostate Cancer are needed
to continue increasing awareness of the condition
and encourage men to seek help.”
More information on NPCC’s
Drive Against Prostate Cancer can be found at www.pcacoalition.org.
In addition, a recent survey
by the NPCC revealed that men report incontinence
as one of the top three treatment-related side effects
on which they need additional information. Most men
don’t realize that they will experience loss
of bladder control as a side effect to prostate cancer
treatment, and most don’t understand that it’s
usually only temporary and always manageable. Most
often, bladder control will improve gradually over
a period of weeks.
Effective management techniques
that help improve quality of life and activity level
include bladder retraining, exploring medications
or surgical options, and using absorbent products
such as Depend Undergarments and Guards for Men. Men
should be encouraged to talk with their healthcare
providers about their symptoms and appropriate management
options. They can also use a new bladder health self-assessment
tool, accessed online at www.Depend.com/tool, to help
gauge their bladder control loss symptoms.
Through raising awareness of
prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of an
annual prostate cancer screening, and encouraging
an open dialogue with healthcare providers to discuss
what to expect after treatment, NPCC and Kimberly-Clark
believe the quality of life for those in treatment
and post-treatment can be improved.
