Eight reasons to be tested for prostate cancer

There’s been a lot of buzz about “Movember” a light-hearted campaign involving men growing moustaches during the month of November to bring awareness about a serious disease – prostate cancer.

As the most common cancer affecting men, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 24,600 men in Canada this year and 4,300 men will die from the disease.

“Typically, in the early stages, prostate cancer has no signs or symptoms,” says Dr. Edward Woods, a urologist at The Scarborough Hospital. “That’s why it is important for men to be tested regularly, before symptoms occur. Prostate cancer is very treatable if detected and treated early.”

Here are eight reasons why men 40 years and older should be tested for prostate cancer:

1. Early diagnosis is imperative.
2. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.
3. The disease is more commonly being diagnosed in men in their 40s.
4. When found early, 90 per cent of prostate cancer cases are curable.
5. Prostate cancer often has no signs or symptoms in the early stages; proactive testing can detect the disease early.
6. Due to an aging population, the incidence of prostate cancer is on the rise.
7. If you have a family history of prostate cancer you are at higher risk.
8. Testing for prostate cancer could save your life.

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