Prostate Cancer ‘could Be Transmitted Sexually’
May 23, 2014 — Prostate cancer might be a sexually transmitted disease caused by a common infection, according to a study.
Experts say the research has limitations and is not proof, though.
Scientists at the University of California found evidence of a link between prostate cancer and the STDtrichomoniasis, in which a common parasite is passed on during unprotected sexual contact.
The parasite is believed to infect around 275 million people worldwide. Furthermore, over three-quarters of men harboring it have no symptoms and may not seek treatment, resulting in chronic inflammation of the prostate.
What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. These problems may occur as the disease progresses:
- Frequent, sometimes urgent, need to urinate, especially at night.
- Weak urine flow or flow that starts and stops.
- Painful urination .
- Painful ejaculation and erectile dysfunction .
- Blood in semen or urine.
- Lower back pain, hip pain and chest pain.
- Leg or feet numbness.
What Exactly Is The Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-size gland located between the bladder and the penis. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. When it becomes enlarged, a common condition with age, the urethra is squeezed and urinary problems can result. The prostate plays an important role in reproduction, being responsible for much of the seminal fluid produced by a man.
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What Treatments Are Available For Prostate Cancer
There are different treatments for prostate cancer. The treatment you are offered will vary depending on your age, overall health, and your tumours stage and grade. Your doctor will discuss the results from your diagnostic tests and your treatment options with you.
Diagnostic tests: Diagnostic tests are used to confirm or rule out conditions and diseases. They can include blood tests, scans, and biopsies.
The main treatments include monitoring the cancer, surgery to remove the prostate, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy.
What Happens If You Are At Risk Of Prostate Cancer
There is no single test for prostate cancer. Your doctor will discuss the available tests with you and use the results to see if you are at-risk of having prostate cancer.
Your risk is based on several factors, including your PSA level and the results of your prostate examination, as well as your age, family history, and ethnic group. If you are at risk, you should be referred to a hospital to discuss further tests. Such tests might include an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan, or bone scan.
PSA level: PSA is a protein made only by the prostate gland. The amount of PSA in your blood is called your PSA level.
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However As With Other Types Of Cancer
The american cancer society provides detailed information on prostate cancer and its treatment. The pancreas is an organ that releases enzymes involved with digestion, and hormones to regular blood sugar levels. Being armed with information is vital to begin the fight. Whether you or someone y. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, it’s treatable. Of course, your specialist is the main person whose advice you should follow but it doesn’t do anyone harm. The pancreas is located behind the stomach, so having pancreatic cancer doesn’t involve a palpable mass that you can feel. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. Find the information you need today. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. But hearing the words can still be scary. Although the percentage of cases in men is much lower than in women, male breast cancer accounts for a por.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. Despite this, pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest types of cancer, which is why it’s extremely important to know and recogni. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. It may grow slowly and it’s typically treatable. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, it’s treatable.
What Are The Primary Purposes Of Skenes Glands
Skenes glands play important roles in both urinary and sexual health.
First, the glands release fluids into the urethra, helping to lubricate it. The urethra itself is a tube thats an important part of the urinary system, as its responsible for moving urine out of the bladder.
Its also thought that Skenes glands contain antimicrobial substances. When released, these may help prevent urinary tract infections .
Like the male prostate gland, Skenes glands also play a role in sexual health. When aroused, the Skenes glands and the clitoris become swollen due to increased blood flow to the area.
As the Skenes glands become stimulated, they secrete mucus-containing fluids, which help with lubrication during vaginal intercourse.
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Women In Prostate Cancer Research
To honor the work and leadership of women in prostate cancer research, we profiled several trailblazing PCF-funded female prostate cancer researchers who are working to find the cure and impact the lives of patients. Read below to learn more about what inspires these amazing women and what they are doing for patients and the field of prostate cancer research.
Himisha Beltran, MDAssistant Professor, Medicine/Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine
Q. Why are you working in prostate cancer?A. Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men and a leading cause of cancer death. The disease affects everyone -both men and women. I find it rewarding to care for aging men and am motivated to improve the lives of these patients and their families.
Q. Who/what inspires you?A. I am inspired by people that are not afraid to take risks and are passionate about their work, life, and values. In science, those that think outside the box and are persistent often make the most significant contributions.
Q. What do you study / what do you do for patients?A. My research is focused on understanding mechanisms of treatment resistance in advanced prostate cancer through integration of clinical and molecular features of patients combined with preclinical modeling. With both a lab based and clinical background, I have been able to translate this research directly to patients and develop clinical trials testing novel therapies.
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Active Surveillance Or Watchful Waiting
Active surveillance means that you will be watched closely by your doctor. If the cancer starts to grow more quickly, you will need to have other treatment, such as surgery. Your regular checkups may include digital rectal exams, PSA tests, and biopsies.
Watchful waiting also means that you will be closely watched by your doctor. But the goal of watchful waiting is to treat symptoms that cause problems rather than to cure the cancer. Men who are older and men who have other serious health problems, like heart disease, and aren’t well enough to have surgery or radiation often choose watchful waiting.
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Ladies: Check Your Prostates
Okayyou may not have one physically, but if you are married to a man or care about other males in your life, you might as well resign yourself to becoming an advocate for this small and mysterious part of the male anatomy. Men are often their own worst enemy when it comes to their healthcare, making a strong dose of feminine persistence just what the doctor ordered. Heres an introduction to the number one mens health issue that might be affecting someone you love.
Five Myths And Misconceptions About Prostate Cancer
Ask any group of men about prostate cancer and if they dont abruptly change the subject to the weather, or that game last night, chances are youll get a wide variety of opinions on screening and treatment.
Even though weve spent the past 25 years identifying more than 29 types of prostate cancer and funded research that has led to more precision, the fact remains that prostate cancer is one of the least talked about cancers. This can lead to a great deal of confusion. So, lets take a look at some of those myths and misconceptions about prostate cancer, a disease that is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S.
Myth #1: Prostate cancer is an old mans disease
There are many risk factors to consider. Your race, family history, physical health and lifestyleeven geographic locationare all factors that can increase your likelihood of developing prostate cancer.
And its true: the older you are, the more likely you are to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. While 65% of the 165,000 cases are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, the fact remains that 35% of those diagnosed, or more than 57,000 each year, are diagnosed at an earlier age. Approximately 1 in 9 U.S. men overall will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. to learn more about these stats.
Myth #2: If you dont have any symptoms, you dont have prostate cancer
Myth #3: Prostate cancer is a slow growing cancer I dont need to worry about
Myth #5: The PSA test is a cancer test
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What You Can Do Now
Sexual side effects from prostate cancer treatment are often temporary, especially if your doctor used nerve-sparing surgery. While your body recovers, you can try a few things to maintain your sex life:
- Let your doctor know about any sexual problems youre having right away. Although it can be hard to talk about sex, being open and honest will help you get the treatment you need.
- See a therapist. Couples therapy can help you and your partner understand and deal with sexual issues.
- Take care of yourself by exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep. Looking and feeling your best will give your self-esteem and mood a boost.
Does Female Prostate Cancer Really Exist
Yes and no. Technically, you cannot develop prostate cancer without an actual prostate. However, the Skene glands have been known to foster cancerous growths, adversely affecting your reproductive system, urethra, and bladder.
Skene glands produce an ejaculate protein called prostate-specific antigen , which, when found at elevated levels in men, could point to the presence of cancerous cells. This explains why the PSA hormone also shows up in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Once they receive radiation therapy, their PSA levels drop. As a result, many doctors closely monitor PSA levels during cancer treatment.
Thats why the answer to Can women get prostate cancer? is somewhat contradictory. Cancer in the Skene glands can mimic prostate cancer in men. Fortunately, this disease is extremely rare and comprises only 0.003% of female genital cancers. It typically affects older, post-menopausal women and produces very small tumors. Treatment might include radiation therapy and removal of the glands.
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Things All Women Should Know About Prostate Cancer
Sure, it’s not a “woman’s” disease, but chances are it will affect a man close to you at some point. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, affecting 1 in 7 during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. While 60% of cases occur in guys over age 65, it sometimes strikes younger. Here, 4 things every woman should know to protect her loved ones, including husbands, fathers, and brothers.
Do Women Have Prostate Glands
Though the prostate is not a component of the feminine system, certain glands and ducts in the female reproductive system perform similar functions to the prostate gland.
These glands are the Skenes glands and have been discovered to contain PSA , an enzyme responsible for causing prostate cancer in men. They are located on either side of the female urethra, in front of the vulva.
Like the prostate gland, the Skenes gland also helps in urinary health.
Based on a report in 1994, 0.003% of recorded cancer conditions in genital parts of females were caused by cancer of the Skenes gland.
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Symptoms Of Female Prostate Cancer
Aside from a spike in PSA levels, there are other symptoms of prostate cancer in women to look out for. As expected, they mimic the signs of male prostate cancer, such as pressure on the bladder, a frequent need to urinate, and painful urination. Soreness in the lower pelvis, itching around the vaginal opening and urethra, painful sex, and disrupted menstrual cycles are all indicators of prostate cancer in women. Because of how rarely it occurs, patients who develop cancer in the female prostate gland are often misdiagnosed.
Technically, you cannot develop prostate cancer without an actual prostate. However, the Skene glands have been known to foster cancerous growths, adversely affecting your reproductive system, urethra, and bladder.
Problems with the Skene glands also go undetected when the symptoms of female prostate cancer fall in line with other reproductive diseases. This includes uterine or ovarian cancer and polycystic ovarian syndrome , which are far more common. They all cause irregular periods, abdominal aches, sluggish metabolism along with weight gain, pressure behind the pubic bone, and painful sex.
Furthermore, the Skene glands have a tendency to grow cysts, which may be benign or cancerous. Theyre manually detectable with your fingers and will probably feel like lumps around your vagina or urethra.
People With Limited Information On Family Medical History
You may not know your family medical history.
Risk assessment tools such as the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool can estimate your breast cancer risk without this information. However, it will be less accurate without your family history details.
Talking with your health care provider about other risk factors for breast cancer can help you learn about your risk even if you dont have information on your family medical history.
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Psa Testing: One Step At A Time
The PSA test is a diagnostic beginning, not an end. Its biggest limitation is that it is not cancer-specific. I have heard it best explained as a smoke alarm that can alert us to potential problems in the prostate, but it cannot distinguish between a full-blown fire fueled by cancer or one of several other medical conditions, such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis, that can be creating smoke. This data, combined with the DRE that provides a tactile assessment for the presence of tumor growth, gives physicians information that may lead them to recommend a needle biopsy to determine if cancer cells are present in the prostate.
Is Female Prostate Cancer Possible
The question is that if the females skenes glands and male prostate glands share similarities, can female also develop prostate cancer or any other similar cancer?
Cancer of the female prostate that is of skene s gland is rare. According to a study, cancer of the Skenes glands accounts for 0.003 percent of cancers in the female genital-urinary tract. There is a possibility of the cancer of a nearby organ, such as urethra, can extend to the Skenes glands. The cancer of female prostate is also called adenocarcinoma of Skenes gland.
Sometimes, cysts, inflammation and infections can occur in these glands and may be misdiagnosed as other urinary condition or disease. If a woman notices unexplained symptoms such as frequent urge of urination, painful urination, pain in the lower urinary tract, sexual dysfunction etc, she should meet her health care provider for a diagnosis and know if these glands are responsible for the problem.
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Specific Prostate Antigens And Carcinogenic Indications
The studies focus on the analysis of how the female prostate produces specific prostate antigens , indicators of prostate cancer in men and that it can be a symptom of breast cancer in women .According to some research, controlling PSA levels during cancer treatment in women can be very useful for monitoring the treatments of some types of breast cancer.
Quantitative And Qualitative Data Synthesis
The synthesis of quantitative data will be done through a narrative synthesis . This is because the review has no interventional arm and is aimed at investigating the awareness of women about prostate cancer. Hence, a narrative synthesis would be performed on findings that would be extracted from included studies. It is imperative to note that random or fixed effects would not be employed in data synthesis. Also, subgroup or meta-regression analysis would not be performed.
The findings from the pool of qualitative data will undergo meta-synthesis through findings assembly and categorization based on shared meanings . These categorized findings will undergo further analysis in an attempt to generate a wealth of evidence that will be easy to comprehend and will also be a true reflection of the awareness of women on prostate cancer concerning the underpinned review objectives .
In the event of the inability to perform a textual pooling, a narrative will be generated . The synthesis by narrative will be performed according to the following approach the findings obtained from the selected studies will undergo preliminary synthesis, the compiled data will be explored for linkages and the synthesizing process will be assessed for robustness .
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If I’m Taking Hormones Or Have Had Genital Reconstructive Surgery Does That Mean I Wont Get Prostate Cancer
No, it doesnt necessarily mean you wont get prostate cancer. But the chance of getting it is likely to be lower if youre taking feminising hormones, testosterone blockers or have had the testicles removed.
Taking feminising hormones, testosterone blockers or having the testicles removed reduces the risk of prostate cancer by lowering testosterone levels. Some researchers believe that trans women who have taken these hormones will only develop prostate cancer if their prostate cancer had started developing before they started transition, but more research is needed.
We dont know whether the age of starting hormone therapy could be a factor. There is some evidence that being older at transition increases the risk of developing prostate cancer, but we need more research.