Prostate cancer is a very real threat for men everywhere and something they should be on the lookout for.
It can prove to be an embarrassing subject though, given the prostate’s location within the male body. Men should attempt to overcome this embarrassment though and educate themselves about the cancer. After all, taking the time to learn about it could one day save their lives.
Symptoms
Here are the most common symptoms associated with this type of cancer:
- An increased urge to urinate
- Despite this, finding it difficult to actually pee
- Feeling your bladder is full when it isn’t
- Slower or weak flow of urine
- Taking longer to urinate
It’s also important to consider the additional symptoms that may pop up if the cancer spreads, including back pain, testicular pain and a decreased desire to eat. Of course, these symptoms could be associated with something else – but it’s always worth getting checked, regardless.
Causes
There are many factors related to the risk of developing prostate cancer. The main ones are genetics (if any close male relatives have fought prostate cancer, your chance of developing it may be heightened), diet, age (the chance of developing this cancer rises after the age of 50) and ethnicity.
Those from a Central, South or Asian American background could have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer – as with those of African-Caribbean descent.
Treatment
Prostate cancer treatment varies from case to case, as it depends very much on how far along the cancer has progressed and the general health of its target. If you have strong health in general, your treatment may be less aggressive. Likewise, if you have a weak immune system or other chronic problems, your treatment might be more intense.
Treatments such as radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy and chemotherapy are amongst those available. There are other less invasive treatments on offer, but again, this depends on the stage the cancer is at.
Each year, more than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 30-40% of them will eventually relapse however the good news is nowadays there are more men being cured from this disease than ever before. Learn how from this lifesaving guide by Dr. Patrick Walsh – Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer and award-winning science writer Janet Farrar Worthington which offers a message of hope to every man facing this illness.
