In the US, about 240,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death in men. In the US, it’s estimated that 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a disease that occurs when the cells of the prostate gland begin to grow abnormally. The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that secretes fluids that help to transport and nourish sperm. It is located below the bladder and around the urethra.
Prostate cancer is a serious issue that affects men of all ages. It is estimated that one in six men will develop prostate cancer, and one in 33 will die from it.
How do you get prostate cancer?
The exact cause of prostate cancer isn’t known. But factors that may increase your risk include:
Age – As men age, their chances of developing prostate cancer increase. About 1 out of 6 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime.
Family history – Men who have a close relative who has had prostate cancer are more likely to develop it than those who don’t have a family history of it.
Race – African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white or Asian-American men.
What are the early warning signs of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can be hard to detect in its early stages because it often does not cause symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced stage.
The following are some signs that you may have prostate cancer:
-You need to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
-You feel like you have to go but nothing comes out when you do
-You find yourself having trouble emptying your bladder completely when urinating
-Your urine stream is weak or slow, which may cause dribbling after urinating
-You have blood in your urine or semen
Early Detection of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is curable and treatable if found early enough. However, if the disease progresses to an advanced stage, it can have serious effects on the lives of patients and their families.
Prostate cancer can be detected early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood or by doing a digital rectal exam (DRE).
PSA Test
The PSA test is a simple blood test that measures the level of PSA in your blood. PSA is a protein made by the prostate, a gland in men that produces semen. High levels of PSA may be caused by cancer or noncancerous conditions, such as an enlarged prostate or an infection.
The PSA test is used to screen men with an average risk for prostate cancer to see if they should have more testing.
Digital Rectal Exam
A digital rectal exam (DRE) is a type of examination used to diagnose prostate cancer. It involves the doctor inserting a finger into the patient’s anus to feel for abnormalities in the prostate gland.
A DRE is one of many diagnostic methods used by doctors to detect prostate cancer. It is not considered a definitive test, and it has limitations. For example, it may not be able to detect small tumors that have not yet been detected by other tests, or it may not be able to determine whether cancerous cells are present if they’re spread throughout the body.
If you have symptoms of prostate cancer, such as frequent urination or blood in your urine, you should see your family doctor or urologist.
Desert Sky Urology is in Chandler, AZ. If you want to be checked for prostate cancer book an appointment.
