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by: Jeff Cuckson
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"Prostate cancer is a
major killer of men!" How is it then that in a poll 96% of men knew
nothing at all about the prostate gland.
Prostate
Cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer in the USA and UK. Next
to lung cancer it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men
in the USA."
Women know more about men's health than
men do themselves and that's a fact. Why is that? Is it because we
find it hard to discuss these things? Is it because it's not macho!
From the time that we are young, we are taught that boys have to act
tough and shouldn't cry. You must have heard the saying "Big Boys
don't cry!"
Most of us carry this thought process into
adulthood and feel by showing concern for our health, it will be
seen as a male weakness. I am guilty of that myself.
I
know when my prostate troubles began, I knew absolutely nothing
about the prostate. I was one of the 96%. Mainly because it didn't
cross my mind that I'd ever have any problems.
In
addition, the prostate is in a "private" area, and it wasn't
something I wanted to examine. Many people, including myself, feel
uncomfortable talking about the prostate, since the gland plays a
role in both sex and urination.
I have had prostate
troubles, survived a cancer scare and watched my sister die from
Cancer. Believe me, when I say that when you think you are going to
die, it concentrates your mind on what is really important. Suddenly
your priorities get focused.
Due to my prostate
troubles, I became interested in learning about the prostate and how
it affected my health.
I cried the day they took a
biopsy and I cried with relief the day I was told it was benign. I
cried many times as I watched my sister die.
I got so
frustrated having to get up every night 3-4 times due to my prostate
troubles and then finding I couldn't get back to
sleep.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate
Cancer develops by the growth of cancerous cells within the prostate
gland. Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells that make up
the prostate gland escape from the normal controls on their growth
and start to divide, grow and spread in an uncontrolled manner. In
its advanced form, it can produce the same symptoms as BPH. (Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Warning Signs
Early
prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. When symptoms of
prostate cancer do occur, they may include some of the following
problems:
A need to urinate frequently, especially at
night; Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
Inability to urinate; Weak or interrupted flow of urine; Painful or
burning urination; Painful ejaculation; Blood in urine or semen;
and/or Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper
thighs.
Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer
or by other, less serious health problems, such as BPH or an
infection (Prostatitis). Only a doctor can tell the cause. A man who
has symptoms like these should see his family doctor . Do not wait
to feel pain; early prostate cancer does not cause
pain.
These are two other main prostate
problems
1) BPH - (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the
abnormal growth of benign prostate cells. In an enlarged prostate ,
the prostate grows larger and pushes against the urethra and
bladder, blocking the normal flow of urine. BPH is often the result
of prostatitis.
2) Prostatitis refers to prostate
inflammation and infection, which can be brief or long-lasting, mild
or severe symptoms can include frequent, urgent and painful
urination, erectile problems or pain during
ejaculation.
Prostatitis is rampant in the US,
affecting at least 80% of American men. Most is without major
symptoms. Prostate enlargement, called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
(BPH) is often the result of prostatitis.
Treatment for
Prostate Cancer
The treatment given for prostate cancer
depends on how advanced or widespread the disease is. If the cancer
is small and only present within the prostate gland, it is possible
to treat it with
surgery (radical prostatectomy)
radiotherapy (either external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy)
hormone therapy
I sincerely hope that this article can
be of use to you, your partner, someone in your family or indeed a
close friend.
Health to me is both physical and mental.
The two cannot be separated. May I leave you with what I regard the
finest bits of advice for
life
*************************************** If I were
asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice
for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable
part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it
squarely in the eye and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot
defeat me." ...........Ann Landers
****************************************
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