Firefighters face an increased risk of prostate cancer.
The good news: there are things you can do now.
Make sure your healthcare provider knows you’re a firefighter. Share your occupational risks and talk about whether PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening is right for you. Your provider can make better decisions when they have the full picture.
Know Your Great Health and know it well. Know how your body feels and functions when you’re at your best, so you’re more likely to recognize when something has changed. If a change persists, get it checked. That’s 3 Steps Detect®—practical skills to help you recognize important health changes, know when to respond, and work with your healthcare provider to get answers.
[TL: Is there anything more to share about prostate –and about more we can share on health changes] cancer?)
Changes worth checking out
The changes that tend to show up earlier are quieter.
– New or persistent difficulty urinating
– Changes in urinary flow or frequency
– Blood in the urine
– Unexplained or persistent pain
Urinary symptoms don’t automatically mean prostate cancer, often they aren’t. Difficulty starting urination, weak flow, urgency, frequency, or getting up at night are common as men age and are often associated with benign prostate enlargement rather than cancer.
Persistent changes, however, deserve an explanation. Getting the right answers sooner can make a difference in outcome.
Prostate cancer can develop without noticeable symptoms, and PSA screening can help detect it before symptoms arise. Know your risk, Know Your Great Health, and talk with your healthcare provider if screening is right for you—even when you feel well.
P.S. What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system that produces fluid that becomes part of semen. It commonly grows larger with age, which is one reason changes in urination can happen for reasons other than cancer.
References
Gnanapragasam, V. J., Greenberg, D. C., & Burnet, N. G. (2022). Urinary symptoms and prostate cancer—the misconception that may be preventing earlier presentation and better survival outcomes. BMC Medicine, 20, Article 264. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02453-7
Schmit, S., Malshy, K., Ochsner, A., Golijanin, B., Tucci, C., Braunagel, T., Golijanin, D., Pareek, G., & Hyams, E. (2024). Lower urinary tract symptoms in elderly men: Considerations for prostate cancer testing. The Prostate, 84, 1290–1300. https://doi.org/10.1002/pros.24772
For more information:
About Our Programs
• Workplace Wellbeing
• First Responders
• Young Adults
• Community Education
