Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman are raising awareness of the risk factors for prostate and ovarian cancer. September is National Prostate and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Orange County, exceeded only by heart disease,” Neuhaus said. “In Orange County, from 2012-2016, 1,142 new cases of Prostate Cancer and 130 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed.
During this time, 150 Orange County men and 92 Orange County women, died from prostate or ovarian cancer.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), while all men are at risk for prostate cancer, the most common risk factor is age. Black men or men with family history of prostate cancer are also at increased risk. Age and family history are risk factors for ovarian cancer as well; however, it is more common in White women than Black women.
“About 13 out of every 100 American men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime, and 2-3 of those men will die from prostate cancer.” explained Dr. Gelman.
Symptoms for prostate cancer include:
- Difficulty starting urination
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away
“Most women who get ovarian cancer are not at high risk, but several factors may increase a woman’s risk such as being middle-aged or older, family history, having a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2, having endometriosis, never having given birth or had difficulty becoming pregnant,” Gelman said.
Ovarian cancer may include the following signs:
- Pain or pressure in the pelvic area
- Abdominal or back pain
- Bloating
- A change in your bathroom habits, such as more frequent or urgent need to urinate and/or constipation
For additional information regarding prostate and ovarian cancer, log onto www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate or www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian.
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