Different Signs + Different Men = Difficult To Diagnose
Symptoms of prostate cancer can be different for each man, and any of the symptoms can be due to other less serious conditions. This makes diagnosing prostate cancer more difficult for doctors, so screenings are necessary.
This walnut sized gland is needed for sperm to travel to its destination, so its pretty important. It gets larger over time, but that doesnt necessarily mean a man has cancer.
If you have some of the warning signs, it doesnt necessarily mean you have cancer, while at the same time you can be diagnosed with prostate cancer without any of the signs. This is confusing and frustrating for both doctors and patients.
There are few, if any, early signs but there are certain signals that indicate something is wrong.
Things To Know About Prostate Cancer Signs And Symptoms
Prostate cancer affects men in their prostate glands. One of the most common cancers found in men, it can go undetected for years. A slow-growing tumor will not push against anything to cause pain in the early stages.
Prostate cancer may first appear through urinary symptoms. The tumor can press on and restrict your urethra, which can cause interrupted urine flow and pain when urinating. You may also experience loss of bladder control, a frequent urge to urinate, or a burning sensation while urinating. These early signs of prostate cancer may go undetected or be associated with the wrong issue.
Early screenings can determine if you have cancerous cells in your prostate. About 85 percent of prostate cancers are detected in early screenings. Cancer cells can be found before you experience any kind of symptoms.
Can Women Get Prostate Cancer
Women do not have a prostate gland, therefore, they cannot develop the prostate cancer that affects men. However, some people refer to a womans Skenes glands as the female prostate.
Maslow emphasizes, Women do not have a prostate. They do not need to worry about prostate cancer. We do appropriate screenings for female patients.
The Skenes glands are the two small ducts located in front of the vaginal wall and along both sides of the urethra. These glands are not the same as prostate glands in men, though they function similarly in how they drain fluids into the urethra.
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Religious And Spiritual Beliefs
Awareness of the importance of religious beliefs and spiritual concerns within medical care has increased substantially over the last decade. National consensus guidelines, published in 2018, recommended the following:
- That all patients receive a screening assessment for religious and spiritual concerns, followed by a more complete spiritual history.
- That all patients receive a formal assessment by a certified chaplain.
- That such information is placed in patient records, with follow-up at all appropriate times, including hospitalization at the EOL.
An interprofessional approach is recommended: medical personnel, including physicians, nurses, and other professionals such as social workers and psychologists, are trained to address these issues and link with chaplains, as available, to evaluate and engage patients. A survey of nurses and physicians revealed that most nurses and physicians desire to provide spiritual care, which was defined as care that supports a patients spiritual health. The more commonly cited barriers associated with the estimated amount of spiritual care provided to patients included inadequate training and the belief that providing spiritual care is not part of the medical professionals role. Most nurses desired training in spiritual care fewer physicians did.
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Genetic Testing For Prostate Cancer
You may hear a lot about genetics or genomics. Both terms are related to genes and cell DNA, but they are different. These tests are being used to learn more about the DNA of cancer cells, and link DNA mutations with treatments. In the future, genetic testing may be the first step doctors take when diagnosing prostate cancer.
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Do You Know The Five Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
Posted on by Cleveland Urologyin News
Do you know that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men next to skin cancer? Do you know that the prostate is a vital part of a mans reproductive system? Do you know men can have both benign and cancerous growths in the prostate gland? Most importantly, do you know the five warning signs of prostate cancer? Every man should know when to take action.
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How Common Is Prostate Cancer And Who Is At Risk
Prostate cancer most often affects men between ages 55 and 69. There is a huge gap between the proportion of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those whose health and lifespan are affected by the disease. American men have a 16 percent lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, but only 2.9 percent of men die from it.
In fact, many prostate cancers are believed to be slow growing, with men dying from causes other than prostate cancer. Autopsy studies support this, finding that 30 percent of 55-year-old men and 60 percent of men reaching age 80 on whom an autopsy is performed have autopsy-discovered prostate cancer.
There are some factors that increase risk for prostate cancer, including:
Race Race seems to play a role in the frequency and severity of the disease. African-American men are far more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men 203.5 vs. 121.9 cases per 100,000 men. They are also more than twice as likely as white men to die of prostate cancer 44.1 vs. 19.1 deaths per 100,000 men.
Family History Positive family history of prostate cancer is another risk factor.
Elevated Body Mass Index Elevated BMI is another risk factor, linked to an increased risk of prostate-cancer-specific mortality and biochemical recurrence in men with prostate cancer.
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Symptoms Of Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Recurrent prostate cancer is the state where cancer returns after its treatment. It may occur around the prostate and refer to local recurrence. In case it is found in the other part of the body, it is also referred to as metastatic. Certain symptoms will let you get an idea about it. These are as follows:-
- There is blood in the urine
- Difficulty in urination
What Is The Right Time To Seek Medical Assistance
Medical assistance is an essential factor that can save your life if you call your doctor at the right time. So, if you notice such signs or indications for a long time, its time to investigate properly.
a):- Frequent need to pass urine.
b):- trouble initiating or stopping the urine flow.
c): Week flow of urine.
d): Pain during urination.
e): Unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
h): Discomfort and pain in the lower back and pelvic area.
i): swelling of the leg.
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Spotting The Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
About 175,000 men are expected to develop prostate cancer this year, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society, and about 32,000 men are expected to die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer-related death in American men, following lung cancer. Spread out over a lifetime, about one out of every nine men will have prostate cancer, and one out of every 41 men will die of the disease.
Those are some sobering statistics. But as serious as prostate cancer can be, its also highly curable as long as its caught and treated early, before the cancer has a chance to spread. The American Cancer Society estimates the five-year survival rate for men with localized cancer that is, cancer thats confined to the prostate at nearly 100% when treatment starts right away even if the cancer has spread to the local region, including the lymph nodes and neighboring areas, the five-year survival rate is still nearly 100%. However, if the cancer goes undetected and spreads to other organs or more distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to about 30%. Bottom line: Early detection saves lives. And part of detecting prostate cancer in its earliest stages is knowing what symptoms to look for so you can be evaluated as quickly as possible.
Are There Prostate Cancer Risk Factors To Consider
Cancer researchers have identified several factors that could increase a mans risk of developing prostate cancer. In considering whether any of these risk factors apply to you, remember that having one or more of them does not mean you will get the disease. However, you should be sure to get all the prostate cancer screenings your physician recommends. It is also important to know that men without these risk factors may also have prostate cancer.
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The Top 7 Signs Of Advanced Prostate Cancer
In the early stages, you may not notice any symptoms related to prostate cancer. This is why screenings are important. Symptoms can sometimes be noticed for the first time when the cancer advances.
Advanced prostate cancer, also called metastatic cancer, means the cancer has spread to other areas of your body beyond your prostate gland. The most common areas for prostate cancer to spread are your bladder, rectum, and bones. It can also spread to your lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and other body tissues.
Whether youve just been diagnosed or youre in treatment, its also important to know the signs of advanced cancer. Cancer can behave differently depending on your genetics, so not every person will experience the same symptoms in the same way.
Read on to learn more about the seven top symptoms of advanced prostate cancer and how to spot them.
How You Might Feel
When prostate cancer is advanced, it can no longer be cured. But treatment can control it for some time and help to relieve symptoms.
Finding out that your cancer cant be cured is distressing and can be a shock. Its common to feel uncertain and anxious. Itâs normal not to be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support are available to you, your family and your friends. It can help to find out more about your cancer and the treatments you might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or nurse to understand:
- what your diagnosis means
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Prostate Cancer: 6 Warning Signs That Men Should Not Miss
- Many cases of prostate cancer go undetected till advanced stage as there are hardly any significant symptoms initially.
Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers that affect men, mostly after the age of 60, is not easily detectable at initial stages. Symptoms are more prominent at advanced stage when it has spread to other parts of the body. This is the reason experts advise that men should pay attention to certain warning signs that may indicate trouble, and get screened for prostate cancer.
Dr S K Pal, Urologist, Apollo Spectra Delhi, Nehru Enclave, explains more about the cancer and its warning signs.
Some facts about prostate
The prostate is a small walnut sized gland situated in the pelvic region of a man next to the bladder. Your prostate is known to carry out a lot of important functions like producing the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports your sperm, says Dr. Pal.
Many cases of prostate cancer may go unrecognized initially, because there are hardly any significant symptoms till it has extensively spread to the bones or other organs of the body. This happens due to the lack of awareness, tendency to ignore minor symptoms, self denial due to male ego and avoidance of annual health check-ups till serious problems start and cause significant disturbances in passing urine, adds Dr. Pal.
Causes of prostate cancer
Warning signs of prostate cancer
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What About Trans People
People born with a prostate can develop prostate cancer. Individuals born without a prostate cannot develop prostate cancer.
Trans women who use hormone therapy such as estrogen may have a lower risk, but the risk is still present.
Anyone born with a prostate should speak to their doctor about screening for prostate cancer.
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What Should I Do If I Have Prostate Cancer Symptoms
If you are displaying one or more signs of prostate cancer, be sure to promptly consult with a physician. Even benign prostate conditions like prostate enlargement warrant timely medical attention, so dont delay seeking treatment. And, like most other malignancies, prostate cancer is usually more easily treated when it is detected at an early stage.
Soreness In The Groin
When prostate cancer spreads, its common for cancer cells to go to your lymph nodes and then move to more areas of your body. The lymph nodes are a network of glands that help your body filter fluids and fight infections.
There are several lymph nodes in your groin. These are the ones closest to your prostate, so its common for the cancer to spread to them first. Cancer cells prevent your lymph nodes from draining fluid and working properly. When this happens, your lymph nodes swell. As a result, you might experience pain or soreness in the area.
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What Causes Prostate Cancer
Put simply, prostate cancer is caused by changes in a person’s genetic code or DNA. There are two important types of genes that may play a role in the development of prostate cancer:
- Genes that help cells grow, divide, and stay alive are called oncogenes.
- Genes that keep cell growth under control, repair mistakes in our DNA, or trigger cellular death at the right time are called tumor suppressor genes.
If either gene type changes , then it can result in cells growing out of control e.g., cancer.
Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
One of the challenges of prostate cancer is that it often doesnt present symptoms that alert men to its presence, particularly in the early stages. But the Urology Care Foundation notes that there may be some warning signs that you have problems related to your prostate, including the following:
If you get screened for prostate cancer, there are additional warning signs based on how the prostate gland cells look under a microscope, notes the American Cancer Society. Cells that may be concerning will exhibit some level of what is known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia . These cells may exhibit low-grade PIN, in which something is slightly off with the cells, or high-grade PIN, when they show clear abnormalities.
Under a microscope, prostate gland cells may also exhibit what is known as proliferative inflammatory atrophy . PIA indicates cells that are smaller than normal and show some signs of inflammation. These cells may be worth additional monitoring because they could develop high-grade PIN and ultimately prostate cancer.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. They may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer. Some men do not have symptoms at all.
If you have any of the following symptoms, be sure to see your doctor right away
- Difficulty starting urination.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Urinating often, especially at night.
- Trouble emptying the bladder completely.
- Pain or burning during urination.
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesnt go away.
Keep in mind that these symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
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Get An Annual Check Up
According to Dr. Ramin, In the United States, the average age of prostate cancer diagnosis is 69. After that year, the chances that a man will develop prostate cancer increase significantly. So, around the age of 50, men should be receiving a regular, annual physical and screening for prostate cancer. Putting in the work of getting comfortable with and committed to regular health checkups puts a man in a much better position to identify problems early when hes older.
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Overview Of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the various types of cancer. It only affects men. Cancer starts growing in the prostate gland in the reproductive system of males. It is one of the diseases, which progress very slowly. There are various types of treatment for prostate cancer, but many men dont even bother treating their prostate cancer. Yes, the treatment helps to reduce the growth of prostate cancer to some extent, but because of its slow progression, most of the men choose to monitor the cancer progression at first instead of immediately opting for treatment.
Prostate cancer is a very common form of cancer. Prostate cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer death after skin cancer. The statistics show that 1 out of 7 men is likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their entire life span. Furthermore, 1 out of 39 men will die because of prostate cancer.
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