According to the National Cancer Institute, Prostate cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the prostate gland that usually affects older men. What is the prostate gland? From the Prostate Cancer Foundation: “The normal prostate is a small, squishy gland about the size of a walnut. It sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum…It seems to supply substances that facilitate fertilization and sperm transit and survival.” Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men, making it the most common non-skin cancer in America. There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer, including:
- Age – More than 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over age 65.
- Race – African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and are 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease.
- Genetics – You are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer if your father or brother has the disease.
- Geography – Living above 40 degrees latitude (north of Philadelphia for example) raises your risk of dying from prostate cancer due to inadequate sunlight, and therefore vitamin D levels, during the winter months.
Symptoms of prostate cancer vary from patient to patient. Common symptoms include frequent urination, difficulty urinating including weak or interrupted flow or painful or burning sensation, and blood in urine or semen among others.
What Help is Available?
We have many resources for prostate cancer listed on the NeedyMeds website. Our prostate cancer information page is the best place to start. This page lists all of the patient assistance programs (PAPs) available for prostate cancer medications. We also list a number of organizations dedicated to prostate cancer including the Prostate Cancer Foundation, National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the Prostate Cancer Research Institute among others.
In addition to the prostate cancer resource page we also have listings of national and state programs for Cancer, and more specifically Prostate Cancer. The programs listed on these pages cover a wide range of services.
- Patient Access Network Foundation & Patient Advocate Foundation – Provides co-insurance and help with co-payments and other expenses
- ZERO: The End of Prostate Cancer – Provides cancer screenings
- American Cancer Society & Angel Airline Samaritans – Helps cover costs of transportation and travel
We also have an extensive list of Camps and Scholarships for cancer patients and their families. Know of a program we missed? Let us know in the comments or e-mail us at info@needymeds.org.
