The Reality of Prostate Cancer:

A diagnosis of prostate cancer can greatly interrupt a man's life. This disease and its treatment unleash physical as well as psychological effects that can last for the remainder of a man's life. The Life: Interrupted campaign will offer a candid and personal accounting of this interruption in an effort to motivate men and their families to understand the risk factors of prostate cancer long before a devastating diagnosis is ever made.

• Prostate cancer affects one out of every six men in the United States
• More than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and more than 28,000 men will die from the disease this year alone
• Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men in the United States
• One new case of prostate cancer occurs every 2.5 minutes
• A man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes
• Prostate cancer is a disease for all men to be aware of, including all men over 50 or even younger for men with a family history or who are African-American

In order to visualize the impact of prostate cancer, consider that by the end of this year, there will be enough men diagnosed with prostate cancer to fill an 80,000 seat football stadium two times.

Consider that a man's risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is even higher than a woman's risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Know your Risks for Prostate Cancer: Currently, there is no FDA-approved therapy to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It's important to know the risk factors that may be linked to the development of prostate cancer so you and your doctor can closely monitor your prostate health. These include:

• Age: Age is a significant risk factor associated with the development of prostate cancer.
  • Starting at age 50, the risk of prostate cancer starts to increase dramatically for men.
  • Approximately 35% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men under the age of 65.
• PSA: An elevated PSA can be a sign of prostate-related diseases, including prostate cancer
  • PSA is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
  • PSA can be used as an aid to predict prostate cancer risk
  • Men who have prostate cancer may have increased levels of this antigen in their blood
  • New studies now point to higher-than-average PSAs -- one marker is 1.5 or higher in men over the age of 50 – as correlating with a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in the future.  This is significant because we now potentially have a new way to closely monitor men who may be at increased risk for developing prostate cancer.
• Family History: Having a father, brother or a son with the disease doubles your risk for prostate cancer
• Race: African American men are 56% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men, and nearly 2 1/2 times as likely to die from the disease
• Lifestyle Factors:
  • Eating a diet that is high in fat
  • Alcohol consumption

Ways to Manage Your Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer
You can make certain lifestyle changes now to better manage your risk of prostate cancer. These include:

• Weight Management: There is an association between dietary fat and prostate cancer risk.
  • Keeping your weight within a desirable range will not only help you avoid obesity, but also may reduce your risk of prostate cancer
• Diet & Exercise: A diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables has been linked with a lower risk of certain types of cancer
  • Regular aerobic exercise — 30 minutes or more a day — may also decrease your risk of prostate cancer by preventing obesity
    

According to the American Urologic Association, to detect prostate cancer early, the PSA should be offered annually in men over 50.

What You Can Do To Know More About Your Risk:
Men should make certain that they talk to their doctor about their prostate health, including the risk of developing prostate cancer.

• Men 50 and older should get a prostate exam annually
• Initiating a discussion with your provider can be one of the most important steps towards good prostate health
• Ask your provider about your PSA score and know this score, particularly if you see a new  healthcare provider; an increase in PSA from one year to the next might be a sign of a prostate issue  

Actively understanding prostate cancer risk is one of the best ways to help combat the statistics for prostate cancer.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the PSA test along with a DRE to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older.  New studies now point to higher-than-average PSAs  --  one marker is 1.5 or higher in men over the age of 50 – as correlating with a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in the future.  This is significant because we now potentially have a new way to closely monitor men who may be at increased risk for developing prostate cancer. There has been new data that suggests that the PSA test can be more than a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer, it may help predict future risk of prostate cancer.  Do not let prostate cancer interrupt your life, take charge of your health now!

On December 4, 2008, The V Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline and Stand Up To Cancer will stage the first Life: Interrupted town hall event at the ESPNZone in New York City. The event will educate men about the reality of prostate cancer and encourage them to take control of their prostate health. Visit JimmyV.org regularly for updates on the big event.

Life Interrupted Press Release: December 4, 2008: ESPN's Dick Vitale and Michael Wilbon Stand Up in the Fight Against Prostate Cancer

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Funding and other assistance for Life: Interrupted provided by GlaxoSmithKline. GlaxoSmithKline is proud to support the V Foundation. GlaxoSmithKline is proud to support Stand Up To Cancer. Funding and other assistance for Stand Up To Cancer provided in part by GlaxoSmithKline.