[00:00:03] Public Facing the podcast is powered by Kastos.
[00:00:08] If you've been thinking about starting a podcast or possibly leveling up the one you already have, this is for you.
[00:00:16] Kastos makes podcasting simple.
[00:00:20] Upload your episodes, manage your show, and get detailed analytics, all without the tech headaches.
[00:00:28] Whether you're just getting started or already building an audience, Kastos gives you the tools to sound professional and stay consistent.
[00:00:38] Get your podcast out into the world the Easy Way.
[00:00:42] Visit castos.com and start podcasting with confidence.
[00:00:48] That's Cas Tos.
[00:00:55] All right, gentlemen, gather around.
[00:00:58] Let's talk about something we usually avoid.
[00:01:02] Our relationships. No, no, no, no, not that.
[00:01:07] Telemarketers.
[00:01:08] Yes, but no.
[00:01:11] Well, not this time anyway.
[00:01:14] Nope. Today, I'm talking about our prostates.
[00:01:20] Now. I know, I know. Not really fishing trip conversation, though maybe it should be.
[00:01:29] I know.
[00:01:31] And maybe not the reveal that you wanted.
[00:01:35] You see, the truth is, if you're over 40, your prostate is already thinking about you.
[00:01:43] So it's prosthetic. Probably time that you thought about it, too.
[00:01:50] This isn't some scare tactic talk group. No, this.
[00:01:56] This is a stay healthy, stay here and stay around for your family kind of communication net.
[00:02:07] And hey, if we can talk about sports, muscle cars, and grill temperatures, well, I'm confident that we can handle this as well.
[00:02:23] From the natural state.
[00:02:25] This is Public Facing the podcast.
[00:02:31] Welcome to Public Facing the Podcast, where culture and community meet.
[00:02:38] Here we share everyday voices and extraordinary stories.
[00:02:43] I'm your host, Joe Holman.
[00:02:46] Friend, I'm so glad you're here.
[00:02:49] Our time together today will be best spent talking on a matter that falls squarely onto the purview of men's health.
[00:02:59] Men's prostate health.
[00:03:04] So perhaps all of us are not as informed, or maybe we're not all understanding what all it is. So let's talk, shall we, about what the prostate is.
[00:03:22] It'll be easy peasy.
[00:03:25] Now, the prostate, it's a small gland, and it's around the size of a small walnut.
[00:03:33] And it sits just below the bladder, and it helps produce the fluid necessary for reproduction. And like many things in life, it tends to get bigger with age.
[00:03:50] Now, sometimes it grows quietly, sometimes it causes annoying bathroom trips, and sometimes it needs medical attention.
[00:04:04] But we're in our 20s.
[00:04:06] The prostate is the size of a small walnut.
[00:04:11] By the time we've hit 40, our prostate has grown 50 to 100% and is about the size of an apricot.
[00:04:25] And in our 50s, that prostate has now grown to the size of a small plum.
[00:04:33] And if we get to our 60s.
[00:04:36] In 60s, our prostate is the size of a lemon or even a tennis ball.
[00:04:46] Now, the bottom line, though, is that it's small, but it can have a big impact on your quality of life.
[00:05:00] Some common prostate issues are that of bph, which is benign prostatic hyperplasia. It's not cancer.
[00:05:13] It's just enlargement of the prostate.
[00:05:16] And that enlargement that can cause frequent urination, weak urine flow, and that classic, why am I waking up at 3am Again, feeling.
[00:05:31] Another common prostate issue is prostatitis, which essentially is the inflammation of the prostate.
[00:05:40] Now, sometimes this can be due to infection, and other times it can be for other reasons.
[00:05:48] Is it uncomfortable? Well, yes, it is.
[00:05:53] Is it treatable? Also yes.
[00:05:57] You see one other pretty common prostate issue, prostate cancer.
[00:06:09] And it is actually one of the most common cancers in men.
[00:06:17] Now, the good news is that many prostate cancer cases grow slowly and are highly treatable when they're found early.
[00:06:31] And this is important because prostate problems, well, they're common.
[00:06:38] They're not a personal failure.
[00:06:42] They are a health reality, though.
[00:06:47] Now, some warning signs that we need to be watching for, and I'll let you know of when to pay attention to these.
[00:07:01] We need to keep an eye out for when we have trouble starting or stopping our streams of urine, Also when there is a weak stream, and our frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom. Yeah, let's watch that.
[00:07:25] Now, it's important.
[00:07:27] If at any time we find blood in our urine or in our semen, it's important that we make that call and go get that checked out.
[00:07:40] Other warning signs might be pelvic or lower back discomfort, and also that of rectal and ejaculation changes.
[00:07:55] But here's the twist.
[00:07:59] Early prostate cancer often shows no symptoms.
[00:08:06] That's right.
[00:08:08] Which means in this state, waiting for symptoms is like waiting for smoke before checking the stove.
[00:08:19] This is why early detection is so important.
[00:08:23] So don't wait for things on that stove to burn.
[00:08:28] Get checked.
[00:08:30] Now, some risk factors are that of how our risk increases. And I'm also going to share who needs to be extra aware.
[00:08:43] So if you're over 40, you should be aware.
[00:08:52] If you're over 50 and ongoing, you should be extra aware.
[00:09:01] If you have a family history of prostate cancer, among certain other types of.
[00:09:10] You should be extra aware.
[00:09:14] If you're African American, extra aware.
[00:09:20] If you live a sedentary lifestyle, be aware.
[00:09:27] Are you carrying around extra weight?
[00:09:30] Be aware.
[00:09:34] Do you eat a diet that's heavy in processed foods?
[00:09:40] Be extra aware.
[00:09:43] But here's the empowering part of all this.
[00:09:48] Risk is not destiny.
[00:09:52] Awareness changes outcomes.
[00:09:56] In other words, just because you may have a family history of cancer or even specifically prostate cancer, it doesn't mean that you're absolutely going to get, just means that you have an extra risk factor.
[00:10:16] And being aware of this, this combined with, with being screened is what changes the outcomes.
[00:10:27] And as far as screenings go, let's demystify this because it's really less scary than you think.
[00:10:38] Common screening tools are things like the PSA blood test, that's prostate specific antigen blood test, the digital rectal examination, certain types of imaging, or even a biopsy if necessary.
[00:11:03] Now, is it awkward? It might be a little.
[00:11:09] Is it painful?
[00:11:11] Usually not.
[00:11:14] Biopsies, those are usually done under anesthesia.
[00:11:22] But it's absolutely worth it to get screened.
[00:11:28] And a, you know, most screenings start on average for men over 50 or at 50.
[00:11:42] However, those with higher risks, more risk factors. Those tend to start anywhere from age 40 to 45.
[00:11:52] And in certain instances there may be some as young as 35, but with family history. You will want to talk to your doctor soon.
[00:12:06] Now, of those screening tools, I want to set you at ease because the first test that they usually use for screening is generally the blood test and then they move from there as necessary.
[00:12:27] So let's say this plainly.
[00:12:31] A brief moment of awkwardness beats a lifetime of regret.
[00:12:40] And when it comes to treatment options, well, we have more hope than ever.
[00:12:48] Treatment options today are really more advanced than ever, even in the last, say, 10 to 20 years.
[00:12:57] Active surveillance is a method because not all cancers need immediate treatment.
[00:13:07] Many doctors will, depending on the circumstances, will take the watch and see approach, to watch for the growth and the rate of that growth.
[00:13:19] And they have treatment options at their disposal. Things like various medication or radiation or even hormone therapy and when deemed necessary, surgery.
[00:13:36] Now, many men who take part in these treatment options are able to keep working and they continue to, you know, keep living fully.
[00:13:51] Their quality of life continues.
[00:13:56] And many often go on to live long lives, giving them more meaningful years.
[00:14:06] Now there's no longer a hopeless diagnosis.
[00:14:11] It's a manageable health challenge.
[00:14:15] Statistics show that roughly one in eight men will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
[00:14:25] And of Those men, a five year survival rate exceeds 95 to 99% when detected early.
[00:14:36] It's mortality that rises when diagnoses happens late.
[00:14:43] So here are the, here's the key takeaway from this, that early detection turns a potential crisis into a conversation.
[00:14:59] Now, what are some things that we can do for prevention?
[00:15:04] Well, we can change small habits in order to get a big payoff.
[00:15:12] You can support your prostate health by staying active.
[00:15:18] Remember, you're no slouch. Keep it moving.
[00:15:23] Maintaining a healthy weight.
[00:15:26] You can take steps to drop weight by exercise, diet, you know, eating more fruits and vegetables and fiber and cutting back on processed foods and manage your stress.
[00:15:46] If you are carrying around a weight, feel free to talk to somebody about that.
[00:15:55] The more stress off your shoulders, the better in that respect.
[00:16:00] And let's stay hydrated, men. Oftentimes we have no problem filling up the gas tank on our car. But remember, we live hard, we play hard, and we sweat and we, you know, we get dehydrated. It's imperative that we don't neglect refilling our water tank and make sure you're getting regular checkups.
[00:16:32] This may be more Most importantly would be to talk openly about your health without shame or silence.
[00:16:47] Is this conversation touching you?
[00:16:52] Please Connect with me, Share your men's health or prostate health journey with me at hello at Public Facing Pod Stream.
[00:17:06] You're listening to Public Facing the podcast, where we openly share the topics, conversations, testimonies and personal stories that impact the lives of so many from all locations and all walks of life.
[00:17:23] Because these stories should always be public facing, our episodes are that of a scripted yet unscripted talk show.
[00:17:35] Regardless of what you might hear shared during our time together, my sincere hope is that you can find truth and hope inside the stories, topics and conversations that we share.
[00:17:50] My friend, I am so very thankful for you, my favorite listener.
[00:17:56] I appreciate you for being a part of the Public Facing Podcast journey, and I'm hopeful that this episode has inspired you to take action in your life to deter prostate cancer among other men's health diagnoses and get peace of mind one way or another.
[00:18:22] Here's my final take in closing, want to wrap this up and make sure I tie it in a bow and deliver it with something uplifting.
[00:18:34] Gentlemen, taking care of your health is not a sign of weakness, nor should it be addressed passively or halfway.
[00:18:47] You're taking the wheel and proactive control on your health.
[00:18:52] It's a sign of wisdom.
[00:18:54] It's a sign of leadership.
[00:18:57] It's a sign you want to be here for your family, for your friends, for your future.
[00:19:07] Prostate health doesn't have to be scary.
[00:19:11] Screening doesn't have to be intimidating.
[00:19:16] And getting checked doesn't make you fragile.
[00:19:20] It makes you responsible.
[00:19:24] If you're over 40, go on, make that appointment.
[00:19:29] Have that conversation, get screened and get peace of mind one way or the other.
[00:19:41] Seriously, take an extra step.
[00:19:45] Encourage your brothers, your best friends, your dads and your co workers.
[00:19:52] Let's normalize men taking care of men, shall we?
[00:19:59] Yeah, we shall.
[00:20:02] Because the goal isn't just to live longer.
[00:20:07] No, it's to live better, to live stronger and with peace of mind.
[00:20:13] It's all about that.
[00:20:17] Listen, you matter.
[00:20:21] Your health matters.
[00:20:23] Your life, it matters.
[00:20:27] It's your prostate health.
[00:20:30] So stay proactive, stay hopeful, and stay here among us.
[00:20:39] I'll be right here waiting with you.
[00:20:43] I welcome your feedback on any and all of the topics that we discuss and share here on Public Facing the Podcast.
[00:20:54] How may I best serve you?
[00:20:56] Tell me. You've heard my voice, now let me hear yours. Join the conversation and send me your comments at. Hello@public facingpod stream.
[00:21:10] Our previous episodes can be found at publicfacingpod stream or wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:21:20] As we close today's episode, know this.
[00:21:24] You are the very best part of public facing.
[00:21:29] Connect with us on
[email protected] public facing pod thanks for listening.
[00:21:38] It's been a pleasure spending time with you. And until next time, please share those everyday voices and extraordinary stories.
[00:21:50] Keep things upright and Public Facing.
