Prostate Symptoms
It is really hard to understand how prostate cancer works. You will never have clue that you have it and you will never know how long. All you would know is that you have it and sometimes it is too late to stop it. All for the simple reason that prostate symptoms of cancer are hard to find and see. And to understand this better let me go through this one aspect at a time.
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive organ, which stores and makes seminal fluid. In adult men a usual prostate is about three centimeters long and weighs about twenty grams. It is located under the urinary bladder, in front of the rectum and in the pelvis. The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder during urination and semen during ejaculation. Because of its location, prostate complications mostly affect ejaculation, urination, and fecal movement.
The prostate contains many small glands which make about twenty percent of the fluid that makes up the semen. In prostate cancer the cells of the prostate glands transform into cancer cells. The prostate glands needs a collection of male hormones, known as androgens, to work correctly. Androgens comprise of testosterone, this is produced in the testes; dehydroepiandrosterone, produced in the adrenal glands; and the hormone dihydrotestosterone, that is changed from testosterone inside the prostate itself. Androgens are also to blame for secondary gender features such as facial hair and increased muscle mass.
Prostate cancer is a disease in which the cancer cells develop in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Cancer happens when cells of the prostate transform and begin to multiply out of control. These cancerous cells spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body, usually concerning the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer will cause pain, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in urinating and other symptoms like difficulty in defecation.
Patient rates of prostate cancer may vary greatly all across the world. Eventhough the rates vary greatly between countries, it is most common in the United States, more common in Europe, and least common in South and East Asia.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is least common among Asians and most common among black men. However, these elevated rates may be affected by shoot up in the detection of the disease in the US.
Prostate cancer occurs most frequently in men above the age of fifty. This type of cancer can occur only in men (just like breast cancer in women), because the prostate is found in the male reproductive tract. It is the most common kind of cancer detected in men in the United States, it is responsible for more male deaths than any other cancer known to man, except for lung cancer.
Unfortunately, most men who contracts prostate cancer never have obvious symptoms, they undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes which leaves the cancer undetected. Prostate cancer is mostly discovered during a general physical examination or by screening blood tests, like the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. There are some immediate concerns about the accuracy of the PSA test and its effectivity . Suspected prostate cancer is usually confirmed after removing a piece of the prostate and examining it under a powerful microscope. But the sad thing is that some people just ignore the prostate symptoms of cancer.
Prostate Tip #1
As men age, they should think about prostate problem prevention since men in their fifties have a higher risk of developing an enlarged prostate or even cancer. It takes less money to prevent a disease from happening rather than treating it.
Prostate Tip #2
It will be in your best interests to get a prostate screening annually from your physician once you reach age 45 to determine if you have any problems with your prostate. This will also help your physician detect any cancer while it is still in its early stages.