Prostate Cancer Awareness

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with it being the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland. A cancer in a man’s prostate, a small walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid.

A man’s prostate produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the urethra – the tube that carries urine out of the bladder.

Who is at risk
Scientists don’t yet know why, but men of African descent are over 75% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with white men, and 2.2 times more likely to die from the disease.

5 warning signs

• Bone pain (due to spread)
• Symptoms from compression of the spine
• Painful urination or ejaculation
• Sudden erectile dysfunction (trouble in getting an erection)
• Blood in urine or semen

Types

• Benign growths
  These are noncancerous growths and rarely a threat to life
• Malignant growths
  These are cancerous growths that can be life-threatening

Treatment

1. Surveillance
Active surveillance: Monitoring cancer closely by carrying out examinations
Watchful waiting: Relies mainly on the changing symptoms in men

2. Localized therapy
Surgery involves the removal of the prostate gland (prostatectomy)

3. Radiation therapy
Cryotherapy is the use of very cold temperatures to freeze and kill the cancerous cells

4. Focal therapy
Drug therapies that spread throughout the body to destroy cancer cells involve

6. Chemotherapy

Avoid prostate cancer
It is important for men of all ages to test for prostate cancer as this cancer may damage nerves and muscles near the prostate as well as the bladder and bowel.

Visit your nearest doctor today for your digital rectal examination (DRE) or PSA blood test.

Organizations to contact:

Mens foundation 

Engage Mens Health

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/what-is-prostate-cancer.htm
https://www.uclahealth.org/urology/prostate-cancer/what-is-prostate-cancer

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors