Prostate Cancer - Are you awake?

November 19, 2008

Prostate, a walnut-sized gland is a part of the male reproductive system. Located under the bladder, the prostate gland surrounds the top part of the urethra, a tube which carries urine and semen out through the penis. Prostate cancer developing from the cells of this gland is the second-leading killer amongst other cancers in America, exceeded only by lung cancer.

The facts about prostate cancer
Nearly 30,350 men will die from the disease in 2005, and about 232,090 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year.
African-American men have shown the highest prostate cancer incidence rates in the world and will account for even higher proportion of new cases.
About 85 percent of newly diagnosed prostate tumors were discovered in local and regional stages, meaning the tumor has not spread beyond the prostate.
If the cancer is confined to the prostate, the five-year survival rate is 100 percent.

Who is most at risk?
Though 75 percent of all prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, some young men are also at an increased risk for prostate cancer. You are at greater risk than others if you:
If you have a strong family history of the disease i.e. two or more affected first-degree relatives, e.g., father, brother.
If you are an African-American man.
If you consume a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables.

How to detect it early?
If detected early there is 100 percent chance that your cancer will be cured. If you are at an increased risk for prostate cancer, speak to you health care professional about when you should begin screening. Screening exams include:

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA): The PSA blood test measures a protein that is made by prostate cells. High PSA levels are related with the presence of prostate cancer. This alone, however, does not definitively diagnose prostate cancer.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): Prostate cancers usually begin in the posterior part of the gland which can be reached by a digital rectal examination. During DRE, a physician inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum of the patient to feel for any irregular or abnormally firm area that may be cancer. In case an abnormal finding is detected, a trans-rectal ultrasound is likely to be recommended for a more detailed diagnosis.
Trans-rectal Ultrasound (TRUS): Trans-rectal ultrasound makes the use of sound waves released from a small probe placed in the rectum to create an image of the prostate on a screen. This test is helpful in detecting tumors too small to be felt by DRE.

The symptoms
In the early stages of prostate cancer, when a tumor is small there are usually no symptoms. However, the symptoms listed below are associated with prostate cancer, and are often misinterpreted as benign conditions. While growing, a prostate tumor can press on the urethra and cause one or more of the following problems:
Frequent urination.
Trouble in starting or stopping urine flow.
Weak urine flow.
Pain or burning sensation during urination.
Blood in the urine.
Constant pain in pelvis, lower back or upper thighs.

Regardless of your age, don't neglect any of these symptoms and schedule an appointment with your health care professional immediately.

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Prostate Cancer - Are you awake?