1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 1 in 41 will die of this disease.
It is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.
So, how can you prevent being part of a statistic and survive prostate cancer?
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
There are a number of prostate cancer symptoms.
If you’re experiencing any noted below, please consider consulting a medicare professional immediately.
Symptoms can include one or more of the following:
- Blood in the urine
- Weak urine flow
- Interrupted urine flow
- Frequent urination
- Blood on the seminal fluid
- New onset of erectile dysfunction
- Finding the need to strain to empty the bladder
- Pain or burning feeling during urination
- Experiencing pain when sitting
- Pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones
- Swelling or fluid buildup in the legs or feet
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Change in bowel habits
If you are experiencing one of more symptoms, you need to consult with a medical professional ASAP. Diagnosis for prostate cancer may include the following:
Digital Rectal Exam
A Digital Rectal Exam or DRE is a screening test where your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum. This is done to examine your prostate. The doctor will see if there are any abnormalities in the texture, size or shape of your prostate. If they find any irregularities, you may need to undergo further treatment.
Prostate-specific antigen test
The PSA test is where medical professionals draw a blood sample from you. This is needed to analyze the PSA, a substance that’s naturally produced by your prostate gland. If doctors find a higher than normal level of PSA, it can mean that there’s an infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer.
Further tests may include ultrasound, MRI, PET scan, collecting a sample of prostate tissue and/or MRI fusion.
Up next, prostate cancer treatments.
Prostate Cancer Treatments
Depending on how aggressive the cancer is, the treatment varies.
Men who are diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer may not necessarily need to undergo treatment right away. Some may never need treatment.
In situations where treatment is necessary, there are a number of options available. These include:
Surgery – surgical procedures are more frequently involving robots to assist with the surgery for more precise movements.
Radiation Therapy – using both external sources of radiation and, in the case of brachytherapy, putting rice sized radioactive “seeds” in the prostate tissues
Hormone Therapy – these are used to shrink/slow the growth of tumors.
Freezing Prostate Tissue – also known as cryosurgery
Chemotherapy
Biological Therapy – which uses your own immune cells to fight the prostate cancer.
As usual, it is best to discuss treatment options with your doctor to determine the best type of treatment for your situation.
