Lee Hillstrom, Us Too Fox Cities Group Coordinator
We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and much of what we see turns to the color pink. The attention it brings helps all people with cancer because we are all family, and researchers are now finding connections between certain cancers in families who have a history of breast, colon, or prostate cancer.
Equally important as October is to breast cancer is September being blue for prostate cancer awareness and testing. More than 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States this year with approximately 30,000 dying from it. This means that 1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime with their odds of getting it doubling each decade after the age of 40.
Many urologists recommend being tested with a PSA blood test and a DRE, digital rectal exam, by the age of 45, and if you are in a higher risk group, by the age of 40. Men are at a higher risk if there is a family history of prostate cancer, if they are African American, or if they were exposed to chemicals considered to be carcinogens. There are no symptoms for early prostate cancer so being tested and having a baseline PSA number are important information for your doctor to help diagnose cancer is present in the future.
There is a local prostate cancer education and support group by the name of Us TOO Fox Cities. We meet the third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at 1080 Breezewood Lane in Neenah, which is Fire Station Number 31. Our membership ranges from those who haven’t stared any type of treatment yet to those who have been survivors for over 20 years. With the help of great speakers and the experiences of our members we are able to learn more about our own situations and options. Wives, partners, and family members are always welcome at our meetings. If you have any questions please call Lee Hillstrom at 920-722-0774 or email Lee at ustoofoxcities@gmail.com.