The Complicated Prostate: Cancer Is a Concern but There's More to Consider
Most younger men don’t spend a lot of time considering the health of their prostate. However, around the age of 50, they’ll likely find that their physicians want to check out prostate health both physically and through blood work known as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The PSA is not a perfect test, but it’s still used to help detect prostate cancer since there aren’t many alternatives.
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is meant to increase the knowledge about possible prostate problems and make certain that men get checked out regularly.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small organ located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It wraps around the urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body). As men age, the prostate tends to grow larger which can eventually cause any number of health issues including urine retention, but it can become cancerous, as well.
Non-cancer-related problems with the prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: A common problem with older men is something called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). What this means is that your prostate is enlarged but not cancerous. This enlargement can cause serious issues with urination.
There are treatments to manage BPH including simply watching under the supervision of your doctor. As long as you don’t have significant problems with urination and are checked at least annually, this might be enough.
Medicines can help shrink the prostate or relax muscles near your prostate to ease symptoms. Like all medications, these have side effects, so this is a balance that you work out with your doctor.
If medication alone doesn’t solve the problem, then other treatments such as using a laser, radio waves, or traditional surgery are discussed with your doctor to determine your best option.
Acute bacterial prostatitis: This is a bacterial infection that will start suddenly and make a trip to your doctor a priority. If you have other prostate symptoms and suddenly have a fever, chills, or pain in addition, you will need an antibiotic. The doctor may be able to prescribe something to help your pain, as well.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is an infection that keeps returning. Treatment may require a number of approaches including medicine, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is common among American men. Your chance of getting prostate cancer may be affected by a number of things including your age, genetics, family history, and diet. Therefore, your doctor will ask about any past medical problems as well as your family’s medical history. The physician will perform a physical exam and possibly a blood test.
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on whether or not the cancer has spread as well as your age and general health. You will want to talk over treatments with your doctor and might even wish to obtain a second opinion. That is your choice.
As is the case with most cancer risks, awareness of changes in your body as well as just overall proactive checkups can lead to early detection. Early detection can often mean the difference between life and death so don’t brush it off.
Preserving function
Most prostate treatments and surgery aim to preserve continence, but sometimes that is impossible. If this is your situation, first seek support through incontinence groups to help you accept your situation. Life can still be well-lived even with incontinence. Second, find the best products to help you transcend this inconvenience. There is a difference and Egosan is here to help you find what works for you.
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