Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is on the rise and is quickly becoming much more common amongst men. With more prostate cancer sufferers being diagnosed every year, we will try to give you as much prostate cancer information and advice as possible, although this is no substitute for visiting a real doctor. If you think you are suffering from the symptoms of prostate cancer, get to your doctor immediately!
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer can easily spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer often results in a difficultly in urinating, erectile dysfunction and other problems during sexual intercourse. Prostate cancer generally develops in men over the age of fifty, however many don’t have any symptoms and so do not receive the necessary vital treatment to keep them alive. Prostate cancer is generally a slow growing cancer that can easily go undiagnosed if it doesn’t spread to other parts of the body.
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors:
Obviously there is no way to be sure and cancer could unfortunately, happen to anyone, but there are certain factors that have been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer in some men.
Age:
Generally, men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 50. If you are 40, you still may suffer from prostate cancer, but proportionally it is men over the age of 50 that should be more vigilant.
Genetics:
If you have a family predisposition to prostate cancer, or any of your family members are diagnosed with prostate cancer, then your risk of prostate cancer increases by two and a half times.
Ethnicity
Black men of Afro-Caribbean origin are three times more susceptible to prostate cancer than white men. Genes or environmental factors may be responsible, the cause is generally undetermined.
Diet
Diet plays an important role in cancer formation. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what it is that is responsible for cancer growth, especially when it comes to food and nutrition. Saturated animal fats and red meat may play a role in the formation of cancer, which would explain the higher cancer rates in the Western world. However in addition, the western world is flooded with luxuries such as cigarettes which have been proven to be carcinogenic. Reducing the amount of animal fats in the diet, in addition to eating more fruit and vegetables may lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
The symptoms of prostate cancer are very similar to the symptoms experienced when men have an enlarged prostate. Consequently, this can mean that many prostate cancer sufferers are misdiagnosed and left untreated. If you experience any of the following symptoms, make sure you consider being checked out by your doctor. Try not to overreact however, as you are likely to just be suffering from enlarged prostate symptoms.
- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night
- Urgency to rush to the toilet, but then not have a strong urine stream
- Inability to control urination
- Difficultly in starting to urinate even when you need to go
- Dribbling urine stream
- Weak urine stream
- Pain during urination
- Persistent feeling the need to empty the bladder in spite of urinating
If you have many body aches, pay attention to them:
- Pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
- Erection problems
- Decreased libido
- Blood in urine or semen
Prostate cancer treatments
- Hormone therapy
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Cryosurgery
- Cryotherapy
- Brachytherapy
- HDR brachytherapy
Which treatment is suitable for you depends upon the advancement of your prostate cancer. Your doctor will advise you on the best treatment at the time. Prostate cancer vaccines are actually available now as prostate cancer treatments. This vaccine is developed using a genetically modified virus that attacks prostate cancer cells. Patients need not be hospitalised for this vaccine as side effects are similar to suffering from a brief spell of flu. Consult your doctor and they will best advise you on how to treat your prostate cancer based on the stage and advancement of the cancer symptoms
