Wear BLUE Day is June 17.

Whether it is your friend, brother, dad, boyfriend, spouse or boss, show them you care about them and their health by wearing blue. Men live sicker and die younger. Wear BLUE was created to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier lives. #ShowUsYourBlue

Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men's Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities.

The purpose of Men's Health Month is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with thousands of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe.

If you don't know what your prostate is or what it does, you're certainly not alone. Most men don't, but you really should.

Prostate function

The prostate is a small gland in men that is part of the reproductive system. It's about the shape and size of a walnut. The prostate rests below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. The prostate helps make semen, which carries sperm from the testicles when a man ejaculates. More than 30 million men suffer from prostate conditions that negatively affect their quality of life.

Statistics

•Over 50 percent of men in their 60s and as many as 90 percent in their 70s or older have symptoms of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

•Each year approximately 220,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and about 30,000 will die of it.

•Prostatitis is an issue for men of all ages and is the most common prostate problem for men under age 50.

About prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It is the second leading cancer killer of men behind lung cancer. It is generally a slow-growing cancer, and most men die with prostate cancer (meaning that they die of some other cause) rather than from it. There are almost 2.8 million men living with prostate cancer in the USA. Still, it kills about 30,000 men each year. But detected early, prostate cancer can be treated.

While no one knows how to prevent prostate cancer, there may be ways to reduce the risk for prostate and most forms of cancer.

Recommendations

•Eat healthy, and choose a low-fat diet

•Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains

•Maintain a healthy weight

•Stay physically active

•Don't use tobacco

•Get regular checkups

It's important to talk to a health care provider about the uncertainties, risks and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening before deciding whether or not to be tested.

To schedule an appointment with your Primary Care manager, call 0444-61-9000, or use www.tricareonline.com. Learn more at http://www.menshealthmonth.org/week/index.html for additional information. (Vicenza Health Clinic)