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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2011)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, May 19, 2011 EMS week offers chance to plan To Your Health! By Judy Hargis, P.A Prostate Cancer Screening Prostate cancer is the most common type of can- cer in men, other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 217,730 new cases diagnosed in 2010. The prostate lies just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Size and shape varies with age. In younger men it is the size of a walnut but in older men it can be much larger. It contains cells that make some of the seminal fluid (semen) that protects and nourishes sperm. The urethra (the tube that car- ries urine) runs through the center of the prostate. If the prostate becomes enlarged it can interfere with urination and sexual function. The question of prostate cancer screening is a complex one. There is no unanimous opinion in the medical community. Most prostate cancers are very slow growing. Studies have shown that by the age of 80 years, most men will have evi- dence of prostate cancer. Most men who have prostate cancer will die from other causes. Prostate cancer treatment may lead to side effects that outweigh the benefits of treatment. Treatment for prostate cancer may have risks and side effects including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and/or bowel dysfunction. Screening for prostate cancer can include a blood test for prostate specific-antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal exam (DRE). PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) prostate tissue. This can complicate testing, because an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection (prostatitis), and other less common conditions, can cause PSA to be elevated. False positives are common. Only one in four men who have a positive PSA M test will turn out to have prostate cancer. DRE is also an important way to evaluate the prostate for abnormalities. Most men are aware of this exam, which involves a health care provider inserting a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormal changes in the prostate. Risk factors for prostate cancer are important in determining whether a screening for prostate cancer is appropriate for an individual. Age is im- portant because as you get older the risk of prostate cancer greatly increases. The majority of prostate cancers are found in men age 65 and older. Ethnic background can play a role in risk factors. For reasons, not clearly understood, African American men have a higher risk of de- veloping and dying from prostate cancer. Family history is an important risk factor. If you have a family member who developed prostate cancer before 65 years, your risk is greater. If you have several first-degree relatives who have been di- agnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (father, grandfather, brothers etc.) you are con- sidered very high risk. It is also thought that obe- sity and a high fat diet may increase risk. It is hard to sort though the various recom- mendations. The American Urological Associa- tion, ACS, UPTFS, CDC, and NIH are the major organizations making recommendations for prostate screening. There is no unanimous con- sensus on prostate cancer screening at this time, so it is important to educate yourself on this issue. A positive PSA test may be a lifesaver for some men. It is important to have PSA testing if you have increased risk of developing prostate cancer, However not all men need the screen- ing. This is an important conversation to have with your health care provider. He or she can evalu- ate your risk factors and overall health, and de- termine when and if you should start or discon- tinue prostate cancer screening. There is no easy answer, so educating yourself is critical. Here are some websites on prostate cancer screening that can be helpful: • USA.gov: Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide is available to download from this site. • ACS.org: good resource for current information on cancer. al Marijuan c i d e a ivery Service l e D High Quality Fast Service 503-805-2663 O.M.M.P. card required Visit us online at www.goweed.org 503-901-1705 From page 7 us to help them help us,” said Murphy. “Planning for disasters means that we must plan for the Whole Community, includ- ing people of different ages and those with access and function- al needs. It means planning for children, planning for the elder- ly, and planning for families without access to personal transportation. It means meet- ing our first responders more than half way when the chips are down.” Tips to help us be better pre- pared for emergencies, and en- hance access to help during disasters include: • Build a “72 hour Disaster Kit” make a disaster plan, and keep a well-stocked First Aid Kit. • Make a list of emergency phone numbers. Write down the numbers you need in your disaster plan and display them near all telephones in the house. • Make sure your house number is visible from the street. Make it easier for police, fire officials or emergency med- ical personnel to find your house. Put large house num- bers in a highly visible area. Make sure the numbers are well-lit and can be seen at night. • Keep a clear and up-to- date record of immunizations. This can help doctors do a bet- ter job of diagnosing problems in an emergency. • Write down medical condi- tions, medications and dos- ages. Being prepared in ad- vance helps assure proper treatment and prevent drug in- teractions. • Make a list of allergies and reactions, and consider med- ical I.D. bracelets or tags. • Take first-aid classes. A ba- sic class will teach CPR and proper ways to treat burns, wrap sprains, apply splints, and perform the Heimlich maneu- ver. FEMA’s Resolve to be Ready in 2011 campaign pro- motes Whole Community in- volvement in disaster pre- paredness. “Become involved in programs that strengthen your community’s disaster re- silience. Investigate training and volunteer opportunities available through the American Red Cross, Citizen Corps or Community Emergency Re- sponse Teams,” continued Murphy. “No matter how busy or hectic our daily routine, we all need to take the time to take positive action to prepare our- selves, our loved ones and our communities in the event of se- vere weather, earthquake, or any other major disaster.” For more information on Na- tional EMS Week observances, visit: http://www.acep.org/ems week/ . For more information on the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit www.fema. gov, Ready.gov and Citizen- Corps.gov. Columbia County Mental Health 800-294-5211 ----------------- Suicide Hotline 1-800- 784-2433 or 1-800-273- TALK(8255) Domestic Abuse Hotline 503-397-6161 or 866-397-6161 ----------------- Military Helpline 888-HLP-4-VET (888-457-4838)