Monday, March 25, 2024

Top Signs Of Prostate Cancer

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Difficulty Stopping Or Starting Urination

10 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

A weak or unsteady urine flow, and in particular having difficulty getting a pee stream started, or dribbling when you finish peeing, is another warning sign to check out. Again, this urinary symptom is most often not sinister, but can sometimes be due to a tumor. However, this symptom should always be checked out.

Favorite Online Support Networks And Advocacy

PHEN is an organization geared toward African-American men a group that has the nations highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates. It offers support groups, survivor networks, and a monthly newsletter that features new treatments and clinical trials. Their annual Fathers Day Rally event takes place at churches nationwide.

Probiotics And Prostate Health

Theres no direct evidence that probiotics can reduce prostate cancer risk or affect the course of the disease in men who already have prostate cancer.

However, the benefits of probiotics include improving gut dysbiosis and inflammation . As discussed above, these might be underlying risk factors for developing prostate problems, including prostate cancer.

Probiotics can also be helpful to improve symptoms of prostatitis an inflammation of the prostate thats usually caused by a bacterial infection .

In a 2014 clinical trial, long-term treatment with rifaximin and a probiotic supplement reduced the recurrence rate of chronic prostatitis and prevented the spread of infection to other parts of the reproductive tract .

Some studies suggest chronic prostatitis may increase the risk of prostate cancer . However, others say theres no link, or that having prostatitis may even decrease your risk .

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Why Do Men Develop Prostate Cancer

While the causes of prostate cancer remain somewhat elusive to scientists, there are risk factors, and certainly, researchers have determined how it develops in the body, if not the triggers. It occurs when modifications in the DNA cells in the prostate gland cause mutations, creating abnormal cells, which may begin to grow rapidly.

In some cases, the modified cells block tumor suppressor genes, which would help prevent damage and overgrowth of the cells. Other causes of prostate cancer may be an overproduction of oncogenes, which are responsible for cell growth and division 2).

Several possible inherited gene mutations can trigger these changes in your DNA. Among other risk factors, there is some evidence that poor lifestyle habits may be causes of prostate cancer and increase your chances of stimulating these DNA changes.

Prostate Cancer Warning Symptoms And 12 Early Signs Revealed

Pin on Prostate Health

Early-stage prostate cancer usually has very few or no warning signs at all. Early detection of prostate cancer is one of the strongest weapons against the disease. Cancer could only raise concern if the tumor happens to press on the urethra and cause changes to your urine flow. Early signs of prostate cancer may not be visible and their undetectable nature can lead to cancer progression.

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Current Psa Screening Recommendations

PSA-based screening refers to testing healthy men without symptoms.

Until recently, physician societies disagreed on screening recommendations, but with the publication of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guideline in May 2018, all the major physician groups are broadly in agreement, including the American College of Physicians , the American Cancer Society , American Urological Association , and American Society of Clinical Oncology :

  • They advise supporting men so that they make informed decisions about screening that reflect their personal preferences and values.
  • Routine screening is not recommended in men between ages 40 and 54 of average risk.
  • For men ages 55 to 69 years, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded with moderate certainty that the net benefit of PSA-based screening is small for some men, making the decision up to the judgment of the physician and the values of the patient.
  • For men 70 years and older, they recommend against routine screening because the expected harms are thought to outweigh the benefits.
  • Your doctor should not screen you unless you express a preference for it.
  • A discussion of the benefits and harms of screening should include a family history of prostate cancer, race or ethnicity, any medical conditions that affect your overall health and lifespan, and your values about risk and benefit.
  • If you have less than a 10-year life expectancy, screening is not recommended.

About Dr Dan Sperling

Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.

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What Is The Prognosis Of Prostate Cancer That Has Spread

The prognosis largely depends on where the cancer spreads and the severity. Doctors will use certain screening guidelines and may also conduct a digital rectal exam. This can help to determine the disease progression.

Individuals with aggressive prostate cancer may experience a faster spreading and progression of the disease. Prostate cancer in late stages also may have a poor prognosis compared to early detection and treatment procedures.

The mean survival rate for prostate metastasis depends on where the cancerous cells spread toward, as well as the progression rate and how long it takes the patient to reach end-stage prostate cancer.

General risk assessment tools provide the following guidelines for the mean survival period for prostate cancer metastasis:

  • Spread to lymph nodes: 32 months
  • Spread to the bones: 21 months
  • Cancer spread to the liver: 14 months
  • Spread to the lungs: 19 months

Possible Changes In Body Function

Prostate Cancer: Signs And Symptoms To Look Out For
  • Profound weakness usually the patient cant get out of bed and has trouble moving around in bed
  • Needs help with nearly everything
  • Less and less interest in food, often with very little food and fluid intake for days
  • Trouble swallowing pills and medicines
  • More drowsiness the patient may doze or sleep much of the time if pain is relieved, and may be hard to rouse or wake
  • Lips may appear to droop
  • Short attention span, may not be able to focus on whats happening
  • Confusion about time, place, or people
  • Limited ability to cooperate with caregivers
  • Sudden movement of any muscle, jerking of hands, arms, legs, or face

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What Are The 5 Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer A Quick Recap

As weve seen, most of the warning signs of prostate cancer are related to problems when you pee if youre going to the bathroom more often than before, see blood in your urine, or have weak flow, its important to get checked out.

To prevent prostate cancer from happening in the future, changing up your diet can help, as may addressing inflammation in your gut. For more detailed information, my book, Healthy Gut, Healthy You, has a comprehensive step-by-step plan of how to turn poor gut health around. You can also request a consultation with an experienced practitioner at the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine.

The Ruscio Institute has developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our patients and audience. If youre interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you.

References

So What Are The Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer

Unfortunately, there usually arent any early warning signs for prostate cancer. The growing tumor does not push against anything to cause pain, so for many years the disease may be silent. Thats why screening for prostate cancer is such an important topic for all men and their families.

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In rare cases, prostate cancer can cause symptoms. Contact your doctor for an evaluation if you experience any of the following:

  • A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, some- times urgently
  • Difficulty starting or holding back urination
  • Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
  • Painful or burning urination
  • Difficulty in having an erection
  • A decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated
  • Pressure or pain in the rectum
  • Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs

Remember: urinary symptoms dont necessarily mean you have cancer. Prostatitis or BPH are benign diseases but can cause similar symptoms and are very common.

What about difficulty in having an erection? Again, this is most likely not caused by cancer but by other factors such as diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, or just plain getting older.

That said: Symptoms are symptoms, and no matter whats most likely to be causing them, you should get them checked out by a doctor.

Download or order your free copy of the Prostate Cancer Patient Guide now with COVID-19 Appendix.

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Trying New Potential Treatments

You may also want to talk to your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial. These are studies that test treatments to see if theyâre safe and if they work. They might be new drugs or a mix of treatments that havenât been used together before. You could also be part of the âcontrolâ group and not get the new treatment at all. Clinical trials offer you early access to brand new treatments, but itâs also important to remember that they may not work. Youâll want to talk with your doctor to make sure you understand the pros and cons of a research study before you join one. To find clinical trials, ask your doctor or search the National Institutes of Health database at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

At some point, your treatment may stop working. If that happens, you can still get care to ease symptoms like nausea, pain, and tiredness. Even though it may not cure your cancer, the goal is to make you feel better.

Show Sources

American Cancer Society: âHormone therapy for prostate cancer,ââPreventing and treating prostate cancer spread to bones,ââVaccine treatment for prostate cancer,ââWhat is metastatic cancer?ââWhen Cancer Doesnât Go Away,â âUnderstanding Advanced and Metastatic Cancer,â âWhatâs New in Prostate Cancer Research?â

Prostate Cancer UK: âWhat is locally advanced prostate cancer?â

ClinicalTrials.gov: âLearn About Clinical Studies.â

National Cancer Institute: âCancer Vaccines.â

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What Are The Main Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer

What are the most common earliest symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer doesnt normally show symptoms until the cancer has grown big enough to put pressure on the urethra. You should present to your doctor if you have urgency or notice any changes or difficulties with your urinary stream. These changes may include:

  • Needing to pass urine more frequently, especially during the night
  • Needing to pass urine more urgently
  • Finding it difficult to start passing urine
  • Taking a long time to pass urine
  • Passing blood in the urine
  • Noticing a weak urine flow

Having these symptoms doesnt always mean you have prostate cancer. Benign prostatic enlargement is a common condition in men as they get older and very treatable. The condition is not cancerous but can cause many of the symptoms listed above too. More often than not, urinary symptoms indicate benign prostate enlargement rather than prostate cancer, but its very important to see your doctor to get checked out.

Read Also: Can You Get Prostate Cancer After Having Your Prostate Removed

No Symptoms In Early Stages

The problem is, early stage prostate cancer is a silent lurker with no symptoms. However, a growing tumor will eventually cause symptoms. Since many noncancerous conditions like infection or normal age-related prostate enlargement can cause similar symptoms, only a doctor can tell the difference.

Here are 10 prostate cancer warning signs you should pay attention to. To help you remember them, I have divided them into three categories: urinary function, sexual function, and pain.

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Its a big questionand one that has a variety of answers depending on when a dog is diagnosed, the specific type and stage of cancer, and the age of a dog. This post looks at how the most common types of cancer and cancer treatments affect dogs living with cancer. Read our post on cancer causes in dogs to learn about preventative measures.

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Mercy Among First To Offer $949 Blood Test That Can Screen For More Than 50 Types Of Cancer

Jackie Paxton, 72, of Van Buren, Arkansas, took the multi-cancer detection test at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith at the end of July, which led to the early discovery of cancerous tumor in his abdomen before it had spread to other parts of his body.

Jackie Paxton, 72, who lives on a miniature donkey farm in Van Buren, Arkansas, took the multi-cancer detection test at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith at the end of July, which led to the early discovery of cancerous tumor in his abdomen before it had spread to other parts of his body. Photo courtesy Mercy Media Relations.

Jackie Paxton, 72, of Van Buren, Arkansas, took the multi-cancer detection test at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith at the end of July, which led to the early discovery of cancerous tumor in his abdomen before it had spread to other parts of his body. Photo courtesy Mercy Media Relations.

Jackie Paxton, 72, of Van Buren, Arkansas, seen here with his granddaughter, took the multi-cancer detection test at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith at the end of July, which led to the early discovery of cancerous tumor in his abdomen before it had spread to other parts of his body. Photo courtesy Mercy Media Relations.

ST. LOUIS Jackie Paxtons mom died of pancreatic cancer 11 years ago. His uncle died of lung cancer before that, and his aunt died of cancer too.

Fast Facts On Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer: warning signs, diagnosis and treatment
  • Prostate cancer rarely reaches an advanced stage.
  • People with the condition normally have a very good outlook when they receive an early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Hormone therapy is a treatment option for advanced prostate cancer, as are chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
  • Prostate cancer can spread to the bones, brain, and lungs.

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland mutate and start to develop abnormally, multiplying at an uncontrolled rate. In some instances, the cancerous cells can spread to other body parts through tissue, the blood, or the lymphatic system.

After a doctor diagnoses prostate cancer, they will test to see if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, or how much of the body is affected.

The doctor will assign a stage of prostate cancer from 1 to 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced form.

Stage 4 prostate cancer has spread to pelvic lymph nodes or is blocking the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Stage 4 prostate cancer may also have spread to the bladder, the rectum, the bones, or distant lymph nodes.

Doctors will test any cancerous cells in the body to determine if the additional cells came from the prostate. Even if they detect cancer in the bones, doctors still consider this prostate cancer if that is where the cancer originated.

There are two types of stage 4 prostate cancer:

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Testing Options For Prostate Cancer

There is no one age for prostate cancer testing, but the American Cancer Society makes recommendations about prostate cancer screenings. According to the ACS, patients in any of these groups should consider asking their doctor about testing:

  • Men age 50 or older who have an average risk of prostate cancer and a life expectancy of at least 10 more years
  • Men age 45 or older with a high risk, including African-American men and those with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer before age 65
  • Men age 40 or older who have a higher risk, such as more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age

Expert cancer care

Screening For Prostate Cancer

There are no tests available with sufficient accuracy to screen populations of men for early signs of prostate cancer. However, early detection and treatment can significantly improve prostate cancer survival.

The test most commonly used to aid early detection of prostate cancer is the prostate specific antigen blood test. This is not a diagnostic test as it can only indicate changes in the prostate. If you are concerned about prostate cancer you should talk to your doctor and make an informed choice about whether to have one of the tests designed to find early signs of prostate cancer, in view of the potential risks and benefits.

There are no proven measures to prevent prostate cancer.

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What Are The 12 Early Signs Of Prostate Cancer

A detailed study of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about prostate cancer symptoms mentioned if you experience any or more of the symptoms below, its a warning sign that you have to go see your GP. In a lot of cases, if the pain is located in your bones or pelvic area, it could be a signal that cancer has spread.

Here are 12 warning signs and symptoms of prostate cancer that should never be ignored in order to prevent the development and progression of the disease.

If you notice an acute burning while urinating, it may be an early sign of prostate cancer, but not necessarily. Do not over panic, schedule a urology appointment, and follow the medical advice.

  • A frequent need to urinate

The urinary frequency may be another prostate cancer early sign. When the prostate enlarges because of a malignant tumor, it may cause frequent urination. But this also may happen because of a benign state, such as BPH. Talk with your urologist about your symptoms and have your prostate checked.

  • Difficulty starting or stopping a stream of urine

One of the prostate cancer early warning signs may be the difficulty of starting or stopping the stream of urine. When the prostate gland is affected, it presses on the bladder and creates urinary issues.

  • A weak or dribbling flow of urine

Another early prostate cancer sign is weak or even dribbling flow of urine. If you experience this symptom associated with another one, talk with your urologist about your condition.

  • Pain in the bones

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