Prostate Health- The prostrate gland is a small gland that is located just below the bladder in front of the rectum. The urethra is the tube through which urine passes and it is surrounded by the prostrate gland.
One of the more common problems with your prostate health encountered by men under the age of 50 is an inflammation of the prostrate gland, known as prostatitis. Another problem is prostrate enlargement (BHP ) and this is very common in men aged over 50.
A man who is older than fifty has more of a chance of developing the risk of prostate cancer, because as a man ages the prostrate gland continues to grow. However there is some good news, an enlarged prostrate gland is far more common than prostrate cancer.
The problem with diagnosing prostate cancer lies with the fact that symptoms are similar to BHP and this prostate health issue is very common in men when they grow older. This condition very often causes more symptoms than prostrate cancer.
Early prostrate cancer symptoms are generally experienced due to an obstruction of the flow of urine. This is because of the fact that the prostrate gland surrounds the urethra, and when it enlarges, this blocks the natural flow of urine and makes it difficult to urinate. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or bph and relates to the condition of an enlarged prostate.
Important Warnings
Early prostate related problems and symptoms could include:
- Difficulty to start urination
- The flow or stream of urine is not as fast or hard
- You have to strain to urinate
- It take longer to urinate, even in small amounts
- The feeling that urination was not completed of the bladder is still full
- Inability to empty the bladder
- Problems with ejaculation
These symptoms are the same for BHP as for prostrate cancer: Other prostate problems are
- Difficulty holding the urine in
- Having to urinate more frequently
- Getting up in the night to urinate
- Suddenly needing to urinate and not being able to get to the toilet on time
Tests By Your Doctor
If you experience any of the above symptoms it is very important to consult with your doctor or health professional. There are treatments available that will help you with these prostate health symptoms, and your GP will be able to check if you have or the beginnings of prostrate cancer.
The doctor will probably take a DRE (feeling the prostrate through the rectum) or PSA (Protein Specific Antigen)blood test.
The DRE is the first test that your doctor will conduct (sorry about this gents, it is not very pleasant!). Your doctor will ask you to Lie on your side, you’re your knees drawn up, or bend over the examination table.
He will then insert a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum in order to feel the prostrate gland. It is over very quickly and causes virtually no discomfort; it is merely the anticipation of the test that causes the most discomfort.
If he feels that your prostate is abnormal he will then order the PSA blood tests. These are important in dealing with any prostate health problems.
Skin cancer is the first most prevalent cancer in men, men with prostrate cancer is the second, and the chances of contracting this illness increase with age. There are some schools of thought that believe; if a man lives long enough he will eventually contract cancer of the prostrate.
As with any illness and cancer in particular, early detection is vital. As symptoms are so similar to BHP there are really no specific signals that a man is suffering from prostrate cancer.
Once you have seen your doctor and he has conducted testing on you, if he feels that you may have an enlarged prostrate or the PSA is elevated, he will refer you to a urologist for your prostate health.
The urologist will also examine you, however, they can only confirm a prostrate cancer with the aid of a biopsy, neither the PSA or DRE are specific. During the biopsy of the prostrate gland, several biopsies are taken from various parts of the prostrate.
This is not a massive procedure and can be carried out on an out-patient basis. There is minor discomfort and men are mostly able to return to normal in a day or two.
Important PSA Test
With the advent of PSA testing, they have been able to detect and treat prostrate cancer far earlier than ever before. Early prostate health treatment options have proved to be very successful, they have less side effects than the more aggressive treatments for advanced cancers.
There is definitely a relationship between most illnesses and obesity, and prostrate cancer is no exception. It has been estimated that in the US alone, as many as 90 000 deaths caused by cancer are obesity related, and could have been prevented.
Being overweight makes it more difficult to diagnose prostrate cancer. This delay of diagnosis puts overweight men at more risk of dying from this disease.
This result was concluded by a recent multi – university study, and the study recommends that doctors take extra care when examining overweight men for symptoms of prostrate cancer.
The study found that as the Body Mass Index of a man increases, so too does the growth of the prostrate gland. Body Mass Index is the formula used to evaluate weight in proportion to height.
It is because of this problem that it is felt doctors may actually miss a prostate cancer in obese men by as much as 20 – 25%. Many people don’t believe that being overweight or obese increase the risk of cancers, but this is not so. So taking care of your weight with a proper diet is one of the best ways to prevent prostate cancer and cancer prevention.
Finding a prostrate gland in an obese person is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack and, the bigger the haystack, the more difficult it is to find the needle. This is the reason why it may be more complicated to diagnose a prostrate cancer in obese men.
Prostate Video
We have also included additional links that we hope will help you. It ranges from information relating to prostate cancer, prostate examination , enlarged prostate, Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostatitis. Hope this information helps with your prostate health.
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