September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and there are some important facts you should know about the disease.

The three main facts about prostate cancer you need to know.

1. In Australia, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men;
2. Approximately 3,500 Australian men die of prostate cancer each year; and
3. More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer

Prostate Cancer is generally a slow-growing disease and the majority of men with low-grade prostate cancer live for many years without symptoms and without it spreading and becoming life-threatening. High-grade Prostate Cancer spreads quickly and can be lethal. Appropriate management is key for better outcomes.

Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop in the prostate. These abnormal cells can continue to multiply in an uncontrolled way and sometimes spread outside the prostate into nearby or distant parts of the body.

What Are The Risk Factors?

What are factors that contribute to an increased chance of developing prostate cancer?

Age: Prostate cancer is an age-dependent disease, which means the chance of developing it increases with age. The risk of getting prostate cancer by the age of 75 is 1 in 7 men. By the age of 85, this increases to 1 in 5.

Family history: If you have a first-degree male relative with prostate cancer, you have a higher chance of developing it than men with no such history. The risk increases again if more than one male relative has prostate cancer. Risks are also higher for men whose male relatives were diagnosed when young.

For more information on the disease visit Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

If your loved one is suffering from Prostate Cancer and needs your attention and care and you need support to do that, call Right at Home for information on how this can be achieved. As the experts in Home Care, we have the information and skill needed to support varying home care situations to deliver the most suitable in-home care and assistance to your loved one. Right at Home is a trusted name in home care, help and assistance for seniors, and people living with a disability or illness.