According to the American Cancer Society, most men should start having prostate exams at age 50. Unless they have a family history of prostate cancer, then they should start at 45. Though in some cases you should start even earlier, especially if you have any unusual symptoms. I had an enlarged prostate off and on since my mid 30s, but no one thought it was serious enough to do a biopsy. I didn't have one done until my doctor found a bump on my prostate and by then it was late stage 2.
Now I wonder if we had checked earlier in my life, I might not have gone through this ordeal. But I'm here now and managing to thrive in this new reality.
Most men hate getting prostate exams, so they avoid them. Take it from me, the discomfort of getting one is nothing compared to having radioactive seeds implanted in your prostate and having radiation shot into your groin while you lie there and pray they don't fry your entire reproductive system.
Take the easier route. Get a regular exam!
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the prostate, a small gland in the male reproductive system that helps produce semen and is located just below the bladder. It's a common cancer, but it's usually detected early and often grows slowly, leading to a high cure rate for most individuals.
Treatment Options
If you're diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, you'll likely have several treatment options to consider, which can feel overwhelming. These options can include surgery, radiation therapy, or actively monitoring the cancer to see if it progresses. Even if the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, or to other parts of the body (called metastatic, stage 4, or advanced prostate cancer), there are still many treatment options available. While a cure might be more difficult if the cancer has spread, treatments can still help slow its growth and extend your life.
In its early stages, prostate cancer often doesn't cause any symptoms because it's typically confined to the prostate. However, when symptoms do appear, they can include:
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, you might experience additional symptoms, such as:
If you notice any of these symptoms and they're causing you concern, it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor or another healthcare professional.
The exact cause of prostate cancer isn't always clear. It starts when there are changes in the DNA of prostate cells. Our DNA contains the instructions that tell cells what to do. For healthy cells, DNA guides them to grow, multiply, and eventually die at a specific rate. But with cancer cells, these DNA changes lead to different instructions.
Cancer cells are told to grow and multiply rapidly and can continue to live even when healthy cells would die, leading to an excess of cells. This buildup can form a mass called a tumor, which can grow and harm healthy body tissue. Over time, these cancer cells can break away and spread to other areas of the body, a process known as metastatic cancer.
Some factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include older age, obesity, and a family history of the disease.
While there's no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer, you can take steps to potentially lower your risk:
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