Prostate Cancer Awareness Month marked

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners formally declared September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in a proclamation Sept. 1.

Board President Michelle Hung read that the commissioners acknowledge and recognize the disease will impact 248,530 men who will be diagnosed in 2021 in the United States alone.

The disease kills 34,130 men every year: 93 deaths per day and one man every 15 minutes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate is the second most common form of cancer impacting men behind testicular cancer and several treatment options are available.

While all men are at risk for the disease, African American males are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

Commissioner Matt Lundy stressed the importance of early detection and encouraged men to get tested, a decision that could save their lives.

“Early detection is always the key,” Lundy said. “I think as a man, I can say that we’re pretty stubborn about dealing with doctors and try to avoid doctor’s offices every chance we get.

“But having had the chance to hear and meet with a local prostate cancer survivors group, they will tell you how thankful they were that they actually did go to the doctor’s office, where they had the exam, where there was the early detection.

“Otherwise, they would not be here today.”

While getting tested can be uncomfortable, Lundy encouraged people to put aside their stubbornness and take the step of getting the exam.

“Let’s not be stubborn about this; let’s get tested,” he said. “For anybody who’s gone through the test, it gets a little uncomfortable, but the reality is that you’ll feel much better once you’ve actually gone through the screening to make sure everything’s okay.

“And if something is not right, the early detection is critical in saving lives.”

The CDC recommends seeing a doctor and getting screened for prostate cancer if experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty starting urination

• Weak or interrupted flow of urine

• Frequent urination, especially at night

• Difficulty emptying the bladder completely

• Pain or burning during urination

• Blood in the urine or semen

• Pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away

• Painful ejaculation.