Prostate Cancer Awareness Day to be marked Tuesday

380 Israeli men died of the disease last year; early detection cited as life saver.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
prostate 224.88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
prostate 224.88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
One in six Israeli men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at one point in their lifetime, and in 2006, 380 of them died of it. But oncologists say prostate cancer is not a death sentence, as most men who are treated in time will live a natural life and die from other causes. As in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's case, not all patients have to be treated aggressively, since it is a very slow growing cancer - requiring those who be monitored and tested on a regular basis. If not treated, however, the disease can kill. Currently, many treatment options are available, but various side effects, including impotence, lack of or diminished libido, incontinence and depression, can often affect the quality of life of the patient and his family. September is being observed here and around the world as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. In Israel, Tuesday will be marked as an awareness day organized by the Israel Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation. Lectures by urologists on early detection will be held in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, Karmiel, Kiryat Ata, Pardes Hanna, Ramat Hasharon and Rehovot starting at 6 p.m. For further details contact Lenny Hirsch (054-4570595 or psa.cancer@gmail.com), chairman and one of the foundation's founders. The foundation is in the process of recruiting members and has received initial funding from various drug companies. Donations are sought from the private sector to carry on its work. Established by a group of men and their partners, the foundation aims to raise awareness of the cancer and provide support and guidance to patients and their families as well as information the general public. Until funds become available to create a Web site, information can be found at www.Shalomprostate.co.il, which also has an English section. At present, the most efficient test for prostate cancer is the PSA blood test. It is not cancer specific, but indicates that there could be problems with the prostate. Over the years there have been many arguments on how accurate the test is, but since the introduction of the PSA test in the US, it is estimated that there has been a reduction in deaths due to this tumor of more than 30 percent. Experts recommend getting one's first test at 50, but men at high risk because of a personal or family history of cancer should discuss PSA testing with their family physician at the age of 40. After Olmert was diagnosed, he asked that all male MKs undergo a PSA test. Meanwhile, the Israel Heart Society is marking Healthy Heart Day on Sunday, September 28. It has called on President Shimon Peres to join in the effort of cardiologiests to struggle against cardiovascular diseases. In a letter, society president Prof. Basil Lewis and secretary-general Prof. Doron Zager told Peres that every hour on average, one Israli suffers from cardiac arest, and every year, some 19,000 heart attack victims are hospitalized. Many others cannot be saved because they don't go for medical help after suffering from initial symptoms; the society estimates there are some 20 such cases in Israel every day.