SHARES
In conjunction with Movember or No Shave November, we are attempting to bring to light, some of the common cancers that affect men. It pays to be aware of what you or your loved ones might be affected by, so please read on and spread the word. Today we shall focus on Prostate Cancer.
We all have come across this heard of this term, but what exactly is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Prostate cancer that is detected early — when it’s still confined to the prostate gland — has a better chance of successful treatment.
What are the signs and symptoms that I must look out for?
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages. However, in its advanced stages, some of the symptoms that become prominent include:
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Blood in the semen
So… what causes prostate cancer?
Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells’ DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die.
The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumour that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Who is at risk of getting prostate cancer?
As already mentioned above, prostate cancer is seen in men only. Some of the risk factors that can increase the chances of it affecting you include
- Age – Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
- Family history of prostate or breast cancer – If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or a very strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
- Obesity – Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that’s more difficult to treat.
That’s serious, but how soon or when should I see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you seem to have any signs or symptoms that are worrying. Discuss regarding prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Together, you can decide what type of treatment can be best for you.
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by Hridya Anand
A biochemist by education who could never put what she studied to good use, finally found GetDoc as a medium to do what she loved - bring information to people using a forum that is dedicated to all things medical. View all articles by Hridya Anand.
