Nutrition and Prostate Cancer: The Time Is NOW

As men get older, prostate cancer becomes an increasingly important health concern. As we've said before, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. So with the risk automatically so high, there is no time like the present to take control of your prostate health. Little things you can do now might save you a lot of pain, awkwardness, and embarrassment later. Even if you're thinking you're too young to be worried about those issues, just read these few little things I have to share, DO THEM, and you might be thanking me in the coming years. It's OK, I'll wait patiently for my thank you. Furthermore, Dr. Powell in Detroit, along with his colleagues, studied the prostates of men that passed in their 20's. They found that in 20% of these men, their prostates showed high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or abnormal prostate glands, which are known to lead to prostate cancer. So with that being said, I will actually go ahead and take my thank you now.

First off, nutrition is very important as we all know. Between McDonald's offering all these real fruit smoothies, and Wendy's only offering naturally cut, sea-salted french fries, it is clear that EVERYONE is jumping on the health wagon. As they rightfully should. They don't say "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" for no reason. So lets start off talking about soy. Soy contains flavones, which are found in certain fruits and vegetables such as celery and parsley. Flavones are very beneficial to biological systems, and have beneficial effects against conditions such as diabetes and prostate cancer. It has been shown that soy decreases the risk of prostate cancer. Next up, we have dairy. Dairy products have been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer due to all the fat. In addition, high calcium levels cause an increase in prostate cancer probability. Sooo, for those avid milk drinkers out there, why not switch your whole fat milk out for some soy milk. WIN WIN situation in my opinion.

Take James Brown for example. Upon being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he listened to his doctors, took their advice, and changed his diet. He took his disease into his own hands in order to fight it. He made it his priority to increase his knowledge on the disease to give himself the best fighting chance. We give the information we think is beneficial, it is up to you to use it and thrive. With that being said, go try some soy today!

Skin Cancer

Summertime! That means everyone is wearing less clothes and spends more time outside. Beaches, parks, baseball games, pools. All these places we are all getting our fair share of the sun. And although glistening, golden skin is just to die for, rarely do we consider the repercussions of our extended time in the sun.

Believe it or not, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and accounts for nearly 50% of the cancer in the United States. The skin is the largest organ of the body, so these statistics make sense in a way. This is not to mention, the skin generally takes the most undue punishment protecting us from UV rays every day. The American Cancer Society recommends these tips to help keep your skin healthy.

SEEK shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are strongest.

SLIP on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun.

SLOP on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

SLAP on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck.

Skin cancer generally manifests itself through irregularities in moles are marks (growth, discoloration, bleeding). Please don't read this and run to the ER because you just realized that your birthmark was cancer this whole time. Monitor your skin features to see if there they are changing in a curious manner and confirm with your dermatologist.

A long-standing myth is that African-Americans are invincible to skin cancer. Reading this blog, you will find quickly find that there is no such thing as invincibility. Although African-Americans are less succeptible to contraction of the disease, skin cancer is much more aggressive when it does occur in these individuals. The mortality rate is also much higher in the black population. Generally, the visibible signatures of the disease aren't so obvious; thus, when a melanoma (type of skin cancer) is found, it has often matured past the early phases. Don't believe me? The great Bob Marley, general in the reggae revolution, died of skin cancer that began in his foot.

The sun is our buddy, but he likes to pick on us sometimes. So everyone, while you're trying to get your "Jersey Shore" tan that will last until Thanksgiving, remember to protect yourself!!!

Prostate Cancer! A Transformer's Perspective

As the release date for the newest Transformers film franchise approaches, they would like to bring you a message about prostate cancer. (June is also Prostate Cancer Awareness Month)

CHAMPS 2011: Rewriting Your Future

The Community Health and Men's Promotions Summit. CHAMPS 2011 marks two decades that Dr. James K. Bennett has advocated the awareness of the various men's health issues that are so prevalent in our community. Every September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, CHAMPS offers numerous health screenings for adults of all ages.

Health fairs are quite common nowadays. So what makes this one oh so special?

Let's start with the superficialities. CHAMPS is large-scale. Catering resources to over 500 men (and their families), the program itself requires the Georgia World Congress Center for sufficient space. Although United States healthcare is set for reform in the near future, currently, 42.6 million Americans are living without health insurance, including nearly 25% of Georgians. If this still doesn't hit home, imagine paying $125 for a check-up every six months (tack on $200 for lab work). In short, CHAMPS assists in closing the gap between healthcare and its recipients in our community.

One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. If you are like me, you have more than six men in your family alone. If imagining your father or brother with cancer doesn't speak to the need for awareness, you don't have to read any further. CHAMPS provides digital rectal exams (DREs) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to all attendees. It is recommended that all men over the age of 40 receive these tests annually.

• DRE: a doctor directly examines the overall condition of the prostate using the index finger, inserted through the rectum.
• PSA: a sample of blood is taken to test the levels of a specific molecule that is indicative of the susceptibility to prostate cancer development.

Let's face it. Men don't like to go to the doctor. Whether it be that avertible expense or "the finger", a man will avoid the doctor like a Bed, Bath, and Beyond. CHAMPS looks to highlight the preventability to the epidemics that are taking control of the male population. So, if you're a man aged 18 or older, if you're a mother whose son has an invincibility complex, or if you're a wife with a stubborn husband, come to CHAMPS 2011, and encourage the other men in your life to do the same. Take control of your health, and rewrite your future with a healthier, happier you as the main character.

CHAMPS 2011

Georgia World Congress Center

285 Andrew Young Intl. Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30313

10 AM - 3 PM

Visit www.champsga.org for more information and a full listing of available screenings.