The Goleta City Council has proclaimed September 2020 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, joining communities across the nation to increase awareness about the importance for men to make an informed decision with their health care provider about early detection and testing for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 191,930 new cases in the US in 2020, resulting in an estimated 33,330 deaths. It is estimated 20,160 men in California will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and it is estimated 3,890 California men will die from this disease. 264 new cases of prostate cancer and 48 related deaths were reported in Santa Barbara County in 2010.

Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms and studies suggest strong familial predisposition may be responsible for 5% to 10% of the disease cases. Late stage prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones, which can cause pain in the hips, spine, ribs, or other areas in the body.

The 5-year survival rate approaches 100% when prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to 31% when it spreads to the other parts of the body. The rapid reduction in prostate cancer mortality is attributed to early detection through PSA testing and advancement in treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that men should have an opportunity to make an informed decision about whether to be tested for prostate cancer based on their personal values and preferences. Learn more about prostate cancer here: www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.