September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

President Obama has issued a proclamation designating September as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month," noting this is an "opportunity to renew our commitment to find better ways to prevent, defeat, and control this disease."

Each September, the Center for African-American Health offers free prostate cancer screenings and conducts a campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer, particularly in African Americans, and the need for early detection.

The Facts About Prostate Cancer and African-American Men:

• African-American men are twice as likely to be diagnosed as other American men.
• Among the 10 leading causes of cancer death in African-American men, prostate cancer is second, behind lung cancer.
• African-American men get prostate cancer earlier in life. 

But if you catch prostate problems early, there's a better chance of successful treatment. That's why the Center for African-American Health offers opportunities to get free screenings and encourages African-American men to know their risk factors for prostate cancer and make an informed decision about screening. Learn more.