Prostate Cancer Symptoms in Men
The Challenges of Prostate Cancer Symptoms in Men
The prostate is a small gland which is located beneath the bladder in men and surrounds the urethra. It is the part of a man’s reproductive system that secretes fluid to transport sperm.Unfortunately, prostate cancer symptoms in men are all too common these days.
Prostate cancer is caused when the cells in the prostate increase and get out of control to form a mass of tumor. This disease is very variable. For instance some tumors remain small and grow at a slower rate without affecting a man’s life; but others grow at a faster rate and become life threatening. Eventually these aggressively grown tumors will spread to the bones causing severe pain.
The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer Symptoms in Men
Prostate cancer symptoms in men cannot be detected until the disease has been advanced. Men should be aware of some of the symptoms especially those related to the urination. The urethra, which is responsible for producing semen, is surrounded by the prostate. With the advancement of the cancer, the prostate gland enlarges and contracts the urethra. This results into various pain and difficulties during urination.
Urinary difficulties are common prostate cancer symptoms in men. Some prostate cancer symptoms in men related to urination include:
- Burning during urination
- Incapable of urinating
- Frequently urinating at night
- Interrupted urine flow
- Blood in urine
All of these prostate cancer symptoms in men result into a compressed urethra due to an enlarged prostate. Prostate cancer is not the only disease that leads to the swelling of the prostate. Moreover, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also causes the enlargement of prostate and shows the urinary prostate cancer symptoms in men. Although BPH is not cancer, the patient should still consult a doctor regarding this.
Advanced prostate cancer can spread to the other parts of the body causing additional prostate cancer symptoms in men. One of the most common prostate cancer symptoms in men is the pain in the bones of the spine, pelvis or ribs. Cancer spreading to the spine can also squeeze the spinal cord causing weakening of the leg and urinary and fecal difficulties.
The urinary symptoms of prostate cancer symptoms in men mentioned above are the most important and common prostate cancer symptoms. However there are a few less common prostate cancer symptoms in men. They are:
- Presence of blood in urine.
- Presence of blood in semen.
- Impotence.
- Pain in the lower back, hips or ribs.
- Loss of bladder control.
They are less frequent symptoms but they are important symptoms to be taken care of. The prostate cancer symptoms in men listed so far are almost always unusual and have to be consulted with a physician. Very simple examinations and laboratory tests can be used by the doctors to determine whether the patient actually has prostate cancer or not.
There are no known causes for prostate cancer. Symptoms of prostate cancer in men under 50 years are very rare. Over the age of 70 the risk of the cancer increases. Men from families with a history of prostate cancer have a higher risk of getting the cancer.
Race has an effect too. For instance men of Afro Caribbean descent are more likely to get the cancer than the men of Asian descent. On the other hand diet has a role to play in determination of the riskiness of the cancer. For instance some evidence has suggested that a diet that is high in tomatoes, Vitamin E, cruciform vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower may reduce the risk of prostate cancer symptoms in men.
If the cancer is diagnosed before if spreads outside the prostate gland, treatment could provide a long-term cure for about 90% cases. However if the cancer spreads a little outside the prostate gland, then the chances of being cured would be reduced to a higher extent. Further spread would make the cure merely impossible.
Treatment and medicines will allow the patients to live for a few extra years and stop the pain of the disease. However this will cure only a minority of the patients.
However, the good news is that prostate cancer need not be life threatening. Early diagnosis is very important to safeguard the health of the men. Therefore, when the prostate cancer symptoms in men are observed, they should get it treated by the doctor.