VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Fall 2007

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September 2008 - Put the brakes on prostate cancer


Did You Know?
September’s celebration of healthy aging also features: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month If detected at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 90 percent. National Sickle Cell Month If you are African-American, make testing for this blood disease a priority. Native American Day, September 26 Honor America’s roots.

Healthy aging is all about taking care of yourself: eating right, exercising and scheduling tests for early detection of infection, inflammation and cancer.

Taking care of yourself is especially necessary for prostate cancer. While it’s one of the most diagnosed cancers in America, men have only about a 3 percent risk of dying from the disease—thanks to slow-growing and highly treatable tumors. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be diligent about prevention. Some men may not experience symptoms until the cancer has spread. Don’t wait until your regular checkup if you experience any of these signs of prostate cancer:

a need to urinate frequently, especially at night

urination difficulties, such as trouble starting and
stopping, a weak or interrupted flow or pain or a burning sensation while urinating

erection difficulties and painful ejaculation

blood in urine or semen

stiffness or pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs

“There is harmony in autumn,
and a lustre in its sky.”

—Percy Bysshe Shelley, English poet

To print, download the full "Veterans Wellness 2008 Calendar " in Acrobat PDF Format

September calendar
September 1st - Labor Day
September 2nd - Ramadan begins
September 7th - Grandparents Day
September 9th - Snack on some naturally sweet baby carrots
September 11th - Patriot Day
September 12th - Knit a scarf for the upcoming cold.
September 17th - Constitution Day
September 19th - Walk a mile in the brisk air.
September 22nd - First day of autumn
September 25th - Look up and see the changing leaves!
September 26th - Native American Day
September 28th - Try on a pair of jeans from last year: They fit!
September 29th - Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown

Keep yourself summer trim as fall approaches. Track your changes to keep motivation strong:		Starting weight for September: _________ Goal weight for September: _________ Exercise goals: __________________________ What special memory did you make this month? _____________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

Find out more about good health at www1.va.gov/health/index.asp Your heart and soul will thank you!

Reviewed/Updated Date: January 18, 2008