Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men. Do you know why prostate cancer happens? It occurs when some of the cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. Prostate cancer can cause discomfort and other problems, but it doesn’t always spread to other parts of your body.
Each year, about 2 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide. The disease is more common in older men, but it can occur at any age.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men, after lung cancer. But many people diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t die from it—and most men diagnosed with prostate cancer never have symptoms. So, what can you do to prevent it, notice it if it happens, and treat it if it does?
Cause of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a cancer located in the prostate gland, which is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra, which carries urine and semen out of the body, passes through the prostate gland.
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown. But there are some risk factors that can increase your chances of getting it:
- Age: Prostate cancer most often occurs in men over 50 years old.
- Genetics: Prostate cancer tends to run in families, which means if your father or brother had it, you have an increased risk of developing it yourself.
- Race: Black men are more likely than other races to develop prostate cancer at an earlier age (55 vs 70) and at a younger age than white men (65 vs 75). In fact, black men have twice as many cases as white men despite being half as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 55.
Signs of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer usually grows slowly, and many men don’t know they have it until it’s advanced. The symptoms vary and can be very mild or confusing, so it’s important to see your doctor if you have any concerns.
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate or holding back urine (dribbling)
- Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Blood in the urine or semen (rare)
- Pain when urinating or ejaculating (rare)
Treating Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer can either be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. The treatment will depend on the cancer stage and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
Surgery is usually done when the cancer is localized (has not spread outside of the prostate). Surgery may also be done if you have low-risk prostate cancer that has not responded to hormonal therapy.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This may be used alone or with chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells in the body or stop them from growing and dividing. It’s often used together with radiation therapy or hormone therapy for advanced cancers that have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs such as bones.
Hormone therapy uses medications such as LHRH agonists (e.g., leuprolide acetate) that block the production of male hormones (androgens) by blocking signals from your pituitary gland to your testes.
Steps to Prevent Prostate Cancer
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer:
Eat more vegetables and fruits. Studies show that eating more fiber can help lower your risk for developing certain types of cancers, including prostate cancer.
Exercise regularly. Physical activity helps keep your body healthy by reducing inflammation and improving circulation throughout your body.
Maintain a healthy weight throughout life by staying active and eating right—especially if you’re overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for several types of cancer, including prostate cancer.
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day if you’re male (or two drinks per day if you’re female). Alcohol consumption can increase your risk for certain cancers, including those affecting the prostate gland.
Get Screened Regularly
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. It’s also one of the most treatable forms of cancer if detected early.
But a new study published in JAMA Oncology found that doctors are not screening enough men for prostate cancer. In fact, only about half of them are getting screened at all!
This is alarming because prostate cancer is one of the few cancers that can be detected and treated before it becomes life-threatening (if caught early). Screening tests can help make sure you’re staying healthy and catching any potentially dangerous issues as soon as possible.
We’re here to remind you that screening isn’t just for your health—it’s important for your long-term happiness and well-being too! So please make sure you’re getting tested regularly so that if anything does happen, you’ll be able to catch it early and have time to get treatment before it becomes serious or even fatal.
Read more:
Prostate cancer – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
