Prostate cancer is one of the most
commonly diagnosed cancers in men.
However, the odds of surviving a
prostate cancer diagnosis are very high, especially when it is detected and
treated at an early stage.
The prostate is part of the male
reproductive system, located in front of the rectum and below the bladder.
Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate behave abnormally and
multiply without control forming a malignant tumour.
In general, it is a slow-growing
cancer. Autopsy results of men who died from conditions other than prostate
cancer reveal that many older men, and even some younger men, had prostate
cancer, but it never affected them when they were alive and neither they nor
their doctors ever knew they
had it.
Although we do not know what causes
all cases of prostate cancer, we do know that there are certain risk factors
associated with the disease.
Different cancers have different
risk factors. One of the most significant risk factors for prostate cancer is
ethnic background, with men of African descent being at greatest risk. Men in
the Caribbean who are of African descent are three times more likely to develop
prostate cancer than white men.
Family history, particularly if
your brother or father has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, can double a
man’s risk for also developing the condition. This risk is even greater if the
diagnosis was made at an early age.
There is also evidence to suggest
that some cases of prostate cancer may be caused by inheriting a damaged gene
for example a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. This is the same gene that is associated
with breast and ovarian cancers in women.
The role of diet is controversial
especially when discussing the prevention of prostate cancer. Some studies have
suggested that men who eat foods rich in a substance called lycopenes, such as
tomatoes, pink grapefruit watermelon and papaya may lower their risk of
prostate. Foods rich in selenium including liver, seafood, some grains and nuts
may also lower risk.
The most common alarm bell that
will sound for a man that may signal prostate cancer is a change in his pattern
of urination. However, the symptoms named below can also be due to other
medical conditions including benign prostate disease.
Males are therefore urged to
consult with their physician whenever they notice any of the following; a weak
or interrupted flow of urine, trouble urinating, pain or burning during
urination, frequency of urination especially at night, urgency, or blood in the
urine. Painful ejaculation could also be an indication that cancer is present.
Once prostate cancer has been
diagnosed, there are a range of treatment options available and a man should be
guided by the advice of his physician.
Many of these treatments have two
common side effects – impotence and incontinence – but these can often be
managed by medication and other means often allowing a man to lead a normal
life after prostate cancer.
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