Next month is Men’s Health and Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and so ahead of this important time, we take a look at what prostate cancer is and how to spot the signs.

 

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer among males. In the early stages of prostate cancer, symptoms are uncommon, but there are a few indicators that something may be amiss with the prostate.

Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland. In men, a tiny gland in the form of a walnut generates the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Numerous prostate cancers are slow-growing and restricted to the prostate gland, where they may not be harmful. However, although some kinds of prostate cancer develop slowly and may need minimum or no therapy, others are aggressive and may rapidly spread. It’s important to know the signs so you can be aware and detect them early on.

 

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In its early stages, prostate cancer may not produce any symptoms. As it progresses, there may be some or all of the following:

• Difficulty urinating
• A reduced force of the urine stream
• Blood detected in the urine
• Blood inside the sperm
• Bone discomfort
• Weight loss without effort
• Erectile dysfunction

 

What are the causes of prostate cancer?

Doctors are aware that prostate cancer originates when prostate cells acquire DNA mutations. A cell’s DNA includes the instructions that tell it what to do. The modifications cause the cells to proliferate and divide more quickly than normal cells. When normal cells would perish, the aberrant cells continue to live. The accumulation of aberrant cells forms a tumour capable of invading neighbouring tissue. Some aberrant cells may eventually break off and spread (metastasise) to other body areas.

 

What are the risk factors of prostate cancer?

Cancer experts have discovered several variables as increasing a man’s chance of acquiring prostate cancer. When examining whether any of these risk factors apply to you, keep in mind that the presence of one or more of them does not guarantee that you will get the illness. However, you should have all of the prostate cancer tests recommended by your doctor. It is also crucial to note that prostate cancer may occur in males without these risk factors.

Age
Long considered a disease of the elderly, most prostate cancer cases are detected in men aged 65 and older. However, prostate cancer in men in their 30s is quite uncommon. After age 50, the probability of a man developing prostate cancer increases significantly.

Ancestry
African-American and Caribbean men have a greater incidence of prostate cancer than men of other races and tend to be younger at the onset of the illness. In contrast, Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men had a lower incidence of prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men. Unknown are the causes of racial and ethnic differences in prostate cancer risk.

Genetics
Men whose father or brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer have a significantly increased chance of having the illness. This risk rises if more relatives have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, it is essential to highlight that most prostate cancers arise in males without a family history of the illness.

 

Prostate Cancer Screening – what you need to know

There are two primary approaches for detecting prostate cancer at an early stage: a digital rectal exam and a blood test assessing PSA levels. PSA screening is the most effective way of detecting prostate cancer in males older than 40 or with a particular risk factor.

Although men may be scared by a digital rectal exam, it is a rapid and painless screening method used by physicians and should not cause substantial discomfort. A Digital Rectal Exam is a straightforward, painless, and speedy treatment. A physician inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and palpates the prostate to see whether it is enlarged, has lumps, or has an atypical texture compared to a healthy prostate.

Being aware of your body and the signs of abnormalities to look out for can really make a big difference to your health. See your doctor regularly for checkups, attend any booked screening, and make time for your health ahead of this men’s health awareness month next month.