September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about prostate cancer and generate support for those affected by the disease.

Facts about prostate cancer

*Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men.

*This year, more than 160,000 men will be told they have prostate cancer.

*Some men are at higher risk for prostate cancer. Aside from age, risk factors for prostate cancer include family history and race.

*1 in 5 African American men will develop prostate cancer

*1 in 3 men with a family history will develop prostate cancer

*Nearly three million men in the US count themselves as prostate cancer survivors.

According to the American Urological Association:

*PSA screening in men under age 40 years is not recommended

*Routine screening in men between ages 40 to 54 years at average risk is not recommended

*For men ages 55 to 69, the decision to undergo PSA screening should be a shared decision made between the doctor and patient, after discussing the benefits and risks associated with screening and treatment

*Routine PSA screening is not recommended in men over age 70 or any man with less than a 10-15 year life expectancy

*Urologists are the front line of care and defence for most men and treat 80 per cent of all newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer