September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. The Medical Center of Southeast Texas will provide $10.00 prostate screenings on Wednesday – September 7th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the auditorium of The Medical Center. No fasting necessary.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men. The older you are, the more likely you are to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The ultimate goal of prostate cancer prevention strategies is to prevent men from developing the disease.

There are four major factors that influence one’s risk for developing prostate cancer, factors which unfortunately cannot be changed: Age, race, family history and where we live. However, the following lifestyle and behavior modifications do help lower risk:

• Eat fewer calories and maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce the amount of fat you get from red meat and dairy products
• Watch your calcium intake. Avoid taking more than 1,500 mg of calcium a day
• Eat more fish
• Drink more green or black tea
• If you are age 40 or over, schedule a yearly PSA test