Prostate Cancer - Part II

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer common to men aged 50 or above and is thus rare among younger men. In the UK alone, over 30,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually. It is unlike other types of cancer wherein the condition is isolated within a particular area of the body. Cancer can occur within small areas surrounding the prostate and it may not develop or elicit symptoms until after a few years.

In one out of three men aged 50, there is the possibility of cancer cells building up in their prostate. Meanwhile, those aged 80 have higher risks of experiencing prostate cancer. Because this type of cancer develops slowly but gradually, it may take years before symptoms are evident.

However, there are cases wherein the cancer develops more rapidly causing it to spread to some other parts of the body such as in the bones, other organs, and tissues.

The Prostate Gland

To better understand this type of cancer, it is important to educate yourself about the particular gland affected in prostate cancer. The prostate gland is a small sized gland found only in men. The prostrate surrounds the urethra, which is responsible for transporting urine to the penis.

It is also the prostate which is responsible for producing the semen, which is a thick white fluid that is mixed with the sperm that is extracted from the testicles. The prostate is built with muscles and fibrous capsules. The male sex hormone, testosterone, is responsible for the growth and development of the prostate cells, as well as for the normal functions of the prostate glands.

Dangers of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common reasons of death among men, among any other types of cancer. This fact is most especially true among men that are over 75 years of age. Other essential data reveals that aside from its rarity among younger men, this case is lowest among vegetarian Japanese men.

The fact that prostate cancer is slow growing both has its positive and negative impacts. It does not spread easily but because it does so in a very slow and gradual fashion, those suffering from this type of cancer might not be aware of their condition until after it has spread onto other parts of the body.

What Are The Symptoms

For early prostate cancer, it typically does not exhibit any types of symptoms. However, it can be detected during a routine checkup and is found out that a male has an elevated amount of prostate specific antigen.

There are quite a few common symptoms that you need to look out for such as frequent to increased urination (especially during night time), having difficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream, pain while urinating, or blood in urine. Since the prostate gland is affected, this type of cancer is often associated with urinal dysfunction. Other symptoms associated with this illness are failing to achieve erection and painful ejaculation, since the prostate gland is also connected with the sexual function.

For advanced stages of prostate cancer, there might be additional symptoms since the disease have already spread out to various parts of the body. It could be bone pain, whether spinal, pelvic, or rib.

Understanding Prostate Cancer Recommended Resources:

University of Michigan

University of Maryland Medical Center