Prostate Cancer

I thought I'd share some information for my male readers. My women readers may want to share this with their husbands/boyfriends. I want to share some information on prostate cancer, since it is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.

Here is some information from the National Cancer Institute:

RISK FACTORS:

Studies have found the following risk factors for prostate cancer:

Age over 65: Age is the main risk factor for prostate cancer. The chance of getting prostate cancer increases as you get older. In the United States, most men with prostate cancer are over 65. This disease is rare in men under 45.

Family history: Your risk is higher if your father, brother, or son had prostate cancer.

Race: Prostate cancer is more common among black men than white or Hispanic/Latino men. It's less common among Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native men.

Certain prostate changes: Men with cells called high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) may be at increased risk of prostate cancer. These prostate cells look abnormal under a microscope.

Certain genome changes: Researchers have found specific regions on certain chromosomes that are linked to the risk of prostate cancer. According to recent studies, if a man has a genetic change in one or more of these regions, the risk of prostate cancer may be increased. The risk increases with the number of genetic changes that are found. Also, other studies have shown an elevated risk of prostate cancer among men with changes in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Having a risk factor doesn't mean that a man will develop prostate cancer. Most men who have risk factors never develop the disease.

SYMPTOMS:

Sometimes men with prostate cancer don't have any symptoms, but if they do, these are the most common:

Urinary problems
Not being able to pass urine
Having a hard time starting or stopping the urine flow
Needing to urinate often, especially at night
Weak flow of urine
Urine flow that starts and stops
Pain or burning during urination

Difficulty having an erection

Blood in the urine or semen

Frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. BPH, an infection, or another health problem may cause them. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated.

MEDICAL TESTS:

For a detailed brochure on the medical tests done for prostate problems, check out the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases publication Medical Tests for Prostate Problems