What Do I Need To Know About Prostate Cancer?

You most likely have heard of the prostate.  A few years ago no one would have talked about the prostate, but these days we are inundated with advertisements about reproductive issues for both women and men as if we were discussing a simple cold or sinus infection.  This openness can help save your life!

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It sits to one side of the urinary tract in the pelvis. When it becomes cancerous, it is known as prostate cancer. It is most often seen in men over 50. If you are seeing your doctor regularly, he should be screening for it. If not, ask to be screened.

Early detection gives you the most options in terms of treatment and recovery. There are now blood tests that can check for signs of the disease and help to discover it early. One reason the blood test, called a PSA screening, is so important, is that prostate cancer at the early stages has few or no symptoms.

Symptoms from cancer of the prostate
Symptoms sometimes appear early on but become more pronounced as the prostate enlarges. These symptoms include: frequent urination, increased urination at night, painful urination, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine and blood in the urine. It can also effect sexual functions, causing difficulty with erections and ejaculation.

Untreated, cancer of the prostate will spread causing bone cancer in the surrounding areas (leg, ribs, pelvis or spine). The cancers will all be accompanied by additional symptoms, many of which are devastating such as incontinence, spinal damage and bone pain.

Who's at risk?
Men over 60 are most at risk and for unknown reasons, but most likely having to do with both genetics and lifestyle; black men have the highest incident of prostate cancer and asian men have the lowest occurrences. This leaves all other males somewhere in between.

What can I do?
Studies suggest you can aid prevention with vitamins and dietary changes. For instance, dietary selenium, vitamin E, lycopene, and soy foods are shown to reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer. Another factor appears to be the frequency of ejaculation. An Australian study postulated that the frequent ejaculation helped to prevent the development of prostate cancer. They also found there was a lasting benefit to males who had ejaculated 5 times a week in their 20's-50's as they were 33% less likely to develop cancer of the prostate in their later years.

Other items to add to your healthwatch
Prostate health is a normal consideration for man as they age, similar to women dealing with menopause, osteoporosis or perhaps endometriosis.  Treatments do not have to cause erectile failure and can often restore sexual abilities.  Another disease that can effect sexual ability however is diabetes.  The best defense is having regular checkups with your doctor.

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