Prostate cancer
Sometimes it's not until a high profile case is made public that a disease like prostate cancer gets talked about. But it should be. When former President Ronald Reagan recently overcame prostate cancer, a flurry of prostate cancer awareness took off. But he wasn't the first man to contract prostate cancer - one in ten men are affected by it.
Prostate cancer is an endemic problem in the western world. The incidence of prostate cancer appears to be increasing. About 10% of men will get prostate cancer and approximately 4% die as a result. Studies of autopsies show that half of men over age 70 have some signs of prostate cancer, however these cancers are usually microscopic and are not detectable by clinical examination or biopsy. Nobody knows what causes prostate cancer, but there are certain prostate cancer risk factors as well as environmental factors appear to be important. Prostate cancer in Asia is significantly lower than in Europe, America and Australasia. The specific environmental causes are unclear, but evidence suggests that dietary fat may increase the risk, and lycopene (found in tomatoes, especially rich in cooked tomato products) may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A known family history of prostate cancer may increase your risk of getting the disease. If one close relative has prostate cancer then your risk is 2-3 times greater. With 2 or more, the risk is 8 times.
Prostate Cancer SymptomsThe early symptoms are usually go undetected. There are no obvious symptoms. Advanced prostate cancer can cause symptoms like: - slow urine flow
- hesitancy
- dribbling after urination
- incomplete bladder emptying
- urinary urgency
Sometimes pelvic pain can also occur. This is caused by compression on the urethra that carries urine out from your bladder by the enlarged prostate gland. Prostate cancer may spread to other parts of the body ("metastatic prostate cancer") it usually first appears in the pelvic lymph nodes. This normally does not cause symptoms.
After the lymph nodes the second most common site for prostate cancer to attack are bone tissues. Typically patients can experience bony pain in the pelvis or lower back, or in many areas.
The most common way prostate cancer is detected is in association with benign enlargement of the prostate. With benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH) you may experience a range of lower urinary tract symptoms, and prostate cancer may be diagnosed when you see a doctor about other problems with your urinary tract described above. Screening DebateCurrently controversy exists as to whether prostate cancer screening is appropriate. 10% of men will get clinical prostate cancer in their lifetime, and 2-4% die of it. Screening for prostate cancer is relatively simple to do, with an annual prostate examination and PSA test. Most patients with prostate cancer will be identified and with a relatively high chance of cure.
Screening is expensive if instituted nationwide. Potentially patients with relatively small, slow-growing prostate cancer tumours may be over-treated, and suffer dangerous side effects including the possibility of dying from the investigation and treatment itself. People who oppose prostate cancer screening also argue that there have not been any studies done that prove prostate cancer screening is effective. As of yet the issue of prostate cancer screening is unresolved, and no studies have been performed.
Some indirect evidence that prostate cancer screening is effective are starting to appear in the USA, in some geographical areas where screening is popular, and death from prostate cancer is decreasing. Jim Shaw
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