The Sunday Mail
Did you know?
A man is more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland in men that is part of the reproductive system. It is about the shape and size of a walnut.
The prostate rests below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder.
The prostate helps make semen, which carries sperm from the testicles when a man ejaculates.
Are you at risk of prostate cancer?
Many men with prostate cancer don’t have symptoms until their cancer gets worse.
That’s why you should know your risks:
Age – More than two out of every three prostate cancers are found in men over 65.
Family history – Men with two or more relatives with prostate cancer are more than four times likely to have it themselves and men whose relatives were diagnosed before age 65 run the most risk.
Race – African men get prostate cancer at a rate 56 percent higher than Caucasians.
Weight – Obesity can lead to a delay in diagnosis, longer recovery from surgery and a higher risk of death.
Diet – Men who eat a diet high in animal fat may have a higher risk. Those whose diets are higher in fruits and vegetables may have a lower risk
Symptoms and detection
Most men will not notice any symptoms, especially if their cancer is detected in its early stages. Men who do notice
Symptoms report some of the following:
Urinating a lot, particularly at night
Trouble starting or controlling urination, weak or interrupted flow, or painful urination
Difficulty having an erection
Painful ejaculation, blood or urine in semen
Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
When there are no symptoms, prostate cancer can be found during a routine prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The blood test screens for raised levels of PSA, a protein made by the prostate.
It is recommended that you get tested every year after age 40.
Treatment options
When detected early, nine in ten prostate cancers can be cured. Treatments include:
Radiation: Radioactive beams or metal pellets kill the cancer cells.
Hormone therapy: The prostate cancer growth is slowed and testosterone levels are lowered.
Radical prostatectomy: The prostate gland and some nearby tissue are removed.
Studies have shown that the best chance of curing prostate cancer is by early detection through PSA screening, which is only a blood test.
Call Oncocare Cancer Treatment Centre for an appointment today.
