Prostate Cancer Issues in Healthcare.
Prostate Cancer is a cancer of the prostate which affects men. 190,000 .
new cases are detected each year in America, making it the most common cancer .
among men. Additionally, prostate cancer has grown 192% between 1973 and .
1992. (PCA).
There are social, environmental and political conditions which currently .
exist and may affect a prostate cancer victim's access to health care or .
other services. Some of these issues are very positive while others show .
that politics and "political correctness" can sometimes hinder research and .
cost lives. .
"American men have a one in two lifetime risk of developing cancer. For .
women, the risk is one in three." (PCA) However, only one tenth of the .
American healthcare budget currently goes toward cancer research. The PCA .
estimates that if cancer were cured today, "the economic value to the United .
States would exceed $46 trillion, more than the entire financial assets of .
the country." .
African American men have the highest risk of prostate cancer worldwide - .
their risk is 60% greater than that of Caucasian males. Prostate cancer, in .
the public image is a disease of old men. Yet younger men each year are .
dying of it. The PCA also states that "This year, more cases of prostate .
cancer in men under the age of 65 are expected than the combined number of .
men of ages who are victims of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and brain .
tumors.".
Although the PCA presents a negative political image of prostate cancer - .
the "ignored" cancer, there is some evidence that politicians are beginning .
to hear the victims of prostate cancer, and listen. Cancer, of course .
doesn't discriminate who it picks - though African American males may be .
more at rich cancer doesn't pick its victims by social status. A recent .
public announcement by Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters stating that .
he has prostate cancer indicates once again to the public that early .
