Prostate Cancer

Although you may not be aware of it, prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men in the United States. In fact, almost a quarter of a million men each year are diagnosed with the disease. Therefore, if you are a male; it is extremely important that you take the time to find out as much information about this deadly disease as possible, the risks for developing the disease and information related to prevention, treatment and cure.

Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland; which is found in the reproductive system of men. Normally, this gland is not very large; actually only about the size of a walnut. It serves the purpose of semen production. The problem begins when a group of cells begin to grow uncontrollably. In this instance, a tumor forms and prostate cancer develops. It is important to keep in mind that the tumor may be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are harmless while malignant tumors hold the potential to be very serious; possibly even fatal.

Doctors are not quite sure what causes prostate cancer at this time. There are some risk factors that point to the fact that certain men may be more at risk for developing the disease than others; however. One of the largest risk factors is age. Generally, older men tend to be more at risk for prostate cancer than younger men. In fact; most men who develop prostate cancer are over the age of 40; with the average age of detection falling at around age 70. Generally speaking, men who are older than 55 are thought to be at an increased risk for developing prostate risk. Men who are age 90 or older are considered to be at a significant risk. Other risk factors include men who are of African American descent.

Unfortunately, far too many are diagnosed too late in order for treatment options to be of much success. This is generally because the disease tends to develop rather slowly and a man may have developed prostate cancer years before any symptoms present. Therefore, it is extremely important for men who are age 45 or older to obtain annual prostate cancer screenings.

Prostate cancer can be detected in a couple of different manners. A physician may suspect that a patient has prostate cancer following an annual screening, in which an enlarged prostate may be detected during a rectal exam. Due to the fact that a rectal exam cannot conclusively confirm or deny the presence of prostate cancer, other tests are usually required for a positive diagnosis. Blood tests are usually utilized as well.

A number of treatment options are available in the treatment of prostate cancer. These options include surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiation.

Symptoms of prostate cancer include increased urination, especially at night as well as painful and/or slow urination. Erectile dysfunction and pain during ejaculation may also indicate prostate cancer as well as traces of blood in semen and urine.

 
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