Men, How’s Your Health?

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2015
CONTACT: Suzanna Cisneros, suzanna.cisneros@ttuhsc.edu
(806) 743-7605

Men, How’s Your Health?
Texas Tech Physicians and U.S. Rep. Neugebauer to Discuss Prostate Cancer

A Harris Poll survey of over 1,200 men diagnosed with prostate cancer showed that nearly half (47 percent) of those men ignored their symptoms. That’s according to the October issue of Urology Times, which also stated that 39 percent of those men experienced pain for seven months or more before being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Texas Tech Physicians will host “Prostate Cancer: A Personal Perspective from Randy Neugebauer” from 5 to 7 p.m. November 12 at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Academic Classroom Building 100. Texas Tech Physicians will address symptoms, screenings, research, diagnosis, treatment and historical progression of the disease.

The presentation also will feature U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. He remained cancer-free for five years until his doctors detected high prostate-specific antigen levels at one of his yearly appointments. Although, his diagnosis was a personal issue, he and his family agreed they needed to bring awareness about the disease.

“I decided to publicize my fight with prostate cancer to raise awareness and encourage men to better understand this disease,” Neugbauer said. “I look forward to continuing the conversation with Texas Tech Physicians and working together to promote cancer prevention across West Texas.”

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates about 1 man in 7 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. About 1 man in 38 will die of prostate cancer.

Allan Haynes, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians — Urology and event presenter, said prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, the ACS states that more than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.

“Prostate cancer is silent until it spreads,” Haynes said. “Early checking can be the difference between living or dying.”

Haynes said men with early prostate cancer normally do not have any symptoms. But with advanced prostate cancer, men can experience the following:
• Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night.
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
• Loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
• Blood in the urine
• Pain in the hips, back, chest or other areas from cancer spread to bones
• Erectile dysfunction
“The key is to discuss your prostate health with your physician,” Haynes said. “Educate yourself about your health and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It could save your life.”
Free wellness screenings including antioxidant checks, blood glucose checks, blood pressure checks and BMI screens will be provided.

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