Prostate cancer guide available online

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WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Department of Health encourages men to get checked in September during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. men, behind lung cancer.

According to the Illinois State Cancer Registry, about 8,340 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Illinois during 2008, and 1,330 men will die from the disease.

Studies show that age is the main risk factor; more than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65.

Although all men are at risk, family history, race and diet are equally important and can increase a man’s chances of developing the disease.

Men with close family members who have had prostate cancer are at higher risk, as are black men.

To help men make an informed choice about the potential risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared a guide available at www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/publications/decisionguide.

All men 50 years and older should have regular medical check-ups that include a prostate exam.

For more information on men’s health, visit www.illinois.gov/menshealth.

– Northwest Herald