Prostate Cancer: What You Need To Know

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and to help spread the latest information on the deadly disease, Dr. Deepok Kapoor, president of the Advanced Urology Centers of New York, located in Melville, spoke with Patch.com about what everyone man should know.

Prostate cancer is the most common disease and second leading cause of death among men, Kapoor said.

There is some good news though; "Due to increased detection and awareness over the past two decades, we have seen a significant decline of deaths from prostate cancer," he added.

While there is a decline in the fatality rate, one man still dies nearly every thirty minutes in the U.S. Prostate cancer is also more common among African Americans. One in every six men will develop prostate cancer in their lives, and the incidence is even higher for African American males.

"What everyone should know from Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is that the disease is almost always treatable if caught early enough," he said.

The detection of prostate cancer is a simple process, which involves a blood test known as a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) along with a brief physical examination known as a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). "With a combination of these two tests, we can catch prostate cancer very early. Once it is caught early, there is a variety of treatments available to patients," he said.

The Advanced Urology Centers of New York will be offering free prostate cancer screenings (PSA and DRE) and doctors will be working with with local hospitals to hold screening programs. These screenings are offered all year-round, however an emphasis will be put on them for Prostate Awareness Month.

For more information on free screenings and locations, please visit here.