Basic Health Facts Men Need to Know
- About 5,500 Massachusetts men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually.
- 1 in 6 men is at risk for prostate cancer during his lifetime.
- Black non-Hispanic men have the highest rate of diagnosis and death from prostate cancer.
- Heart Disease and Stroke are leading causes of death, with over 9,100 men dying in Massachusetts each year.
- Prostate cancer and risk factors for heart disease and stroke are silent conditions. Without screening, you may not know you have them.
- Early detection is the key to successful treatment.
- Regular screenings for prostate cancer and risk factors for heart disease and stroke can lead to a longer, healthier life.
Particular emphasis is placed on reducing health disparities, focusing on men among whom disease rates and/or mortality rates are higher. These include Black non-Hispanic men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. Three of the leading causes of death among Black non-Hispanic men are heart disease, stroke and prostate cancer.
Traditionally, men do not go to a doctor regularly or comfortably discuss their health concerns with a physician. Prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease are silent with few if any symptoms until they have progressed to advanced stages.
The Men's Health Partnership operates on the premise that early detection leads to early treatment and early treatment maintains a healthier individual. For men with cardiovascular disease early detection and treatment may delay the onset of co-existing and related illnesses.
Toll Free Information Line
For help finding an enrollment site or to get more information, call this toll free number: 1-877-414-4447 (TTY 617-624-5992). The toll free number includes messages in Spanish and Portuguese as well as English.
Many locations can provide services in Spanish as well as in other languages. Call the toll free number to find out which locations best fit your needs.
This information is provided by the Men's Health Partnership within the Department of Public Health.