Prostate Cancer - Risks, Symptoms & Prevention!

Prostate Cancer occurs in a tiny walnut-shaped and sized gland in men. It helps in producing a semi-fluid(semen) that sustains and transports sperm. It is the most common type of cancer in men.

Risk Factors in Prostate Cancer:

There are several risk factors which should be considered:

1. Obesity: Chances of developing prostate cancer increase if men are obese. It is harder to treat the cancer as obesity invites other diseases as well

2. Family History: If any man in the family has or had prostate cancer, then there is an increased risk for other men in the family to develop prostate cancer. The same goes for breast cancer.

3. Age: As age increases, the chances of developing prostate cancer increases.

4. Race: There is no definite reason why, but black men are at a higher risk spectrum for prostate cancer. Apart from the higher risk of cancer, it is expected to be more advanced and aggressive.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

In the early stages of prostate cancer, there are usually no symptoms to be noticed. However, when the cancer gets advanced, it starts showing symptoms like:

1. Flow of urine reduces

2. Sensation that the bladder is still full even after urinating

3. Urinating more often at night time

4. Sense of losing control of the urination

If prostate cancer is heading towards later stages, these are the symptoms that might show along with the earlier symptoms:

1. Sudden weight loss

2. Difficulty in having or keeping an erection

3. Pain in the lower region of the body is like, back, pelvis, and hips

4. Blood starts to show in semen and urine

How to Prevent Prostate Cancer?

A healthy lifestyle can help in preventing many diseases; prostate cancer is one of them. A few changes in the daily routine and lifestyle are as follows:

1. Low-fat Diet: Eating fatty foods and dairy products can increase the chances of developing prostate cancer.

2. Exercise Daily: Exercising daily has several other benefits. It reduces heart risk and maintains weight.

3. Add Fruits and Vegetables to the Diet: A healthy diet goes a long way to keeping a person fit. Adding fruit to the daily diet as a snack will leave less space in the stomach for other high fat food items.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer:

There are a few treatments available for prostate cancer, such as:

1. Radiation: In radiation therapy, radiation is used as a medium to kill cancer cells which die without multiplying themselves.

2. Surgery: If the cancer is not as wide spread, then it is recommended to remove the entire prostate gland before the cancer cells start multiplying. The procedure is called a radical prostatectomy.

3. Chemotherapy: It is usually given before surgery as it reduces the multiplying of the cancer cells. Once the cancer cells growth is controlled the patient can undergo surgery. It is also recommended to take chemotherapy after surgery to diminish the chances of developing prostate cancer again.

Conclusion:

The treatment is totally dependent upon the severity of the tumor. It can also be dependent upon the stage of prostate cancer. This is why it is always advisable to consult an oncologist. He will diagnose the patient to advise for appropriate treatment. One can also follow instructions and prevention methods to lower the chance of further developing cancerous cells in the prostate.