What Is Prostate?

The prostate is the sexual appendage of the male reproductive system. It resembles a chestnut in size and shape. It is located below the bladder at the beginning of the urethra, behind the pubic bone and in front of the anal canal. In structure, it is similar to a sponge, consisting of thousands of small cavities where the prostate secretion is formed and then passed through dozens of small ducts into the urinary tract.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the cells of the prostate gland. The initial stages of this cancer go unnoticed by the man himself. And neglected cases lead to death.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among older men. 

Why Does Prostate Cancer Develop?

The main causes of prostate cancer are as follows:

• Genetic predisposition. The risk of developing prostate cancer is higher if close relatives (father, grandfather or brothers) have been diagnosed with the disease.
• Hormonal changes caused by age. Hormonal balance disorders often lead to the degeneration of prostate cells into malignant ones.
• Improper nutrition. An imbalance of nutrients, as well as the consumption of large amounts of fat and food containing carcinogens, can provoke the development of a cancerous tumor.
• Unhealthy habits. Alcohol consumption and smoking increase the risk of developing cancer.

Can You Prevent The Disease?

There is no reliable evidence that a diet low in animal fats can prevent or reduce disease intensity. You may have read about the benefits of eating foods rich in selenium or vitamin E to prevent cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial did not support this hypothesis. 

Good physicians are not talking about prevention but early detection of prostate cancer. Early detection will allow having treatment without compromising the quality of life and removal of the tumor, preserving potency and urine retention function.

The First Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that develops slowly and very rarely shows itself until the late stages. Very often, it is discovered quite accidentally during a preventive examination at the urologist or therapist.

If you experience discomfort or difficulty urinating, make an appointment with your doctor and tell him about your problem.

I – II Stage Of Prostate Cancer

The typical complaints of patients with compression of the bladder neck and urethra:

• Weak or intermittent urine flow;
• Feeling that the bladder is not emptying;
• Rapid urination;
• Frequent urges to urinate without emptying the bladder.

These symptoms may be the first signs of prostate cancer or other diseases – urethritis, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia. 

See your doctor when you have these first symptoms. There is a high chance of detecting the disease at stages I – II when nerve-preserving surgery can be performed. 

Unfortunately, only 42% of diagnoses are made on the first stages that allow choosing the least traumatic tactics for prostate cancer treatment.

Stage III prostate cancer

If the tumor is concentrated in the prostate’s peripheral parts, there may be no obstacles to urine outflow. In these cases, the disease is progressive without showing itself. In this case, patients see a urologist with severe symptoms, which suggest the tumor has spread beyond the prostate capsule.

Markers of local tumor spread:

• Blood in the urine and semen;
• Erectile dysfunction;
• Urinary incontinence;
• Perineal pain.

In most cases with stage III, radical surgical treatment is still possible, but not with nerve-sparing technology.

Stage IV prostate cancer

If the tumor has metastasized to the lymph nodes or has metastasized to distant organs, symptoms of lymphostasis (swollen legs), lower back pain due to ureteric lesions, bone pain, severe weight loss, anemia may appear. 

Important Note

The possibility of a successful cure for prostate cancer depends on the stage at which the tumor is detected. The earlier treatment is started, the higher the probability of a favorable outcome of the disease.

If the prostate tumor is detected at early stages and all medical measures are started immediately, a man can be cured and quickly return to a normal life.

Even if prostate cancer is detected at late stages, it is possible to extend life considerably.

Don’t Put Off Going To The Doctor

Regular urological check-ups are necessary not only for the early detection of cancer. Such a disease as prostatitis can cause a lot of inconveniences if treatment is not started in time.

You can avoid active development if these changes are detected in time. That is why men should regularly undergo examinations by a urologist.

The Most Important

Prostate cancer in its early stages has no pronounced symptoms, and only a specialist can detect it. Advanced forms of prostate cancer are one of the most frequent causes of death in older men.

It is only possible to detect the first signs of this disease with a regular check by a urologist, including an examination, an ultrasound examination of the prostate gland, and a PSA blood test. Every man should take this check-up over 45 years old once a year.

PSA is a protein that is produced by the prostate gland. It is determined by a simple blood test from a vein. An elevated PSA level can detect asymptomatic prostate cancer. Thus, men should get a PSA test every year after the age of 50.