Introduction

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and in recognition of this, we are sharing key information about the disease. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), Good news is that it can often be treated successfully. If you have prostate cancer or are close to someone who does, knowing what to expect can help you cope. Here are some details about prostate cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, how it is found, and how it is treated.

The Prostate

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized organ that sits below a man’s bladder (the hollow organ where urine is stored) and in front of the rectum (the last part of the intestines). The prostate is a gland found only in males. It produces some of the fluid that is part of semen.

What is Prostrate Cancer?

Prostate cancer begins when abnormal cells in the prostate begin growing and dividing at a more rapid pace than that of normal cells. As these abnormal cells accumulate, they have the potential to develop into a tumor, which can eventually spread to other nearby tissues and organs. The size of the prostate can change as a man ages. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men.

Causes of Prostate Cancer

It’s not clear what causes prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is known to begin when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die.

The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. In time, some abnormal cells can break away and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Are you at Risk of having Prostate Cancer?

Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:

1. Older age. Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age. It’s most common after age 50 though enlargement is believed to start after age 40.
2. For reasons not yet determined, Black people have a greater risk of prostate cancer than do people of other races. In Black people, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
3. Family history. If a blood relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or a very strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
4. People who are obese may have a higher risk of prostate cancer compared with people considered to have a healthy weight, though studies have had mixed results. In obese people, the cancer is more likely to be more aggressive and more likely to return after initial treatment.

What are the Symptoms?

In some cases, prostate cancer can develop for months or even years before the individual begins experiencing symptoms. This is why regular screenings are important. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty urinating
• Increased frequency of urination
• The need to urinate more often at night
• Decreased force when urinating
• Blood in the urine and semen
• Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or other sexual dysfunction)
• Swelling of the legs
• Discomfort in the pelvis or rectal region
• Pain with ejaculation
• Shortage of blood
• Paralysis

Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?

Screening is testing to find cancer in people before they have symptoms. For some types of cancer, screening can help find cancers at an early stage, when they are likely to be easier to treat.

Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood. Another way to find prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam (DRE) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Why is early detection important?

Although the incidence of prostate cancer is high, prostate cancers can be detected early, when the cancer is still confined to the prostate. Additionally, compared to most other types of cancers, the success rate for treating prostate cancer is very good.

Generally, the earlier the cancer is detected and treated, the higher the chance of remaining free of disease. In fact, “low-risk” tumors are the most common type of prostate cancer, and they can be safely monitored through active surveillance or watchful waiting. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men.

Diagnosing & Treating Prostate Cancer

If prostate cancer is suspected based on results of screening tests or symptoms, tests will be needed to be sure. If you’re seeing your primary care doctor, you might be referred to a urologist, a doctor who treats diseases of the genital and urinary tract, including the prostate.

There are several tests for early detection of prostate cancer, including Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests, Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), and biopsy. The good news is that the 5-year survival rate for most men with local or regional prostate cancer is nearly 100%. Treatment options vary depending on the stage in which the cancer is found. Doctors may recommend Active Surveillance to monitor any changes over time. In suitable cases, Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (RRP) or Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy (RALP) may be recommended amongst other options.

Preventing Prostate Cancer

Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer. However, there are steps you can take that may help lower your risk. You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

1. Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health. Eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.
2. Exercise most days of the week. Exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight and improves your mood. Try to exercise most days of the week. Be sure to stay physically active, engaging in 30 minutes of moderate activity every day.
3. Choose healthy foods over supplements. Choose foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals so that you can maintain healthy levels of vitamins in your body.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, add more exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat each day. Since this varies from person to person, discuss your specific eating habits with your doctor. Ask your doctor for help creating a plan for healthy weight loss.
5. Talk to your doctor about increased risk of prostate cancer. If you have a very high risk of prostate cancer, routine screening becomes very necessary.

If you’re concerned about your risk of developing prostate cancer, talk with your doctor. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the symptoms above and would like to learn more about Prostate Cancer call 08174209999 or 0817209990 to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.