Normal body cells grow. They are also said to divide and die in an orderly fashion. During the early lives of an individual’s life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most
part of the body divide only to replace worn out ones and also to repair injuries. But because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. There are different kinds of cancer including breast cancer (affecting women), lung cancer (affecting smokers mostly) and for men, the prostate cancer seems to be one of the most common to mention but a few.
part of the body divide only to replace worn out ones and also to repair injuries. But because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. There are different kinds of cancer including breast cancer (affecting women), lung cancer (affecting smokers mostly) and for men, the prostate cancer seems to be one of the most common to mention but a few.
WHAT IS PROSTATE
Experts say the prostate which is found only in men, is a walnut-sized gland, located in front of the rectum and underneath the urinary bladder. It is said to contain gland cells that make some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen. Just behind the prostate gland are the seminal vesicles that make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, runs through the prostate.
Male hormones cause the prostate gland to develop in the fetus. Male hormones are also called androgens. The most common androgen is testosterone. The prostate continues to grow until a man reaches adulthood and then stays about the same size as long as male hormones are produced. In older men, the part of the prostate around the urethra may continue to grow, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This can cause urinating problems because the urethra (tube that carries the urine) is squeezed by this growth.
While some prostate cancers grow slowly and spread quickly, most prostate cancers grow slowly. But that does not mean it should be treated with levity. According to medical experts, every cancer (including prostate) is capable of causing death. It spreads to other organs apart from its primary location, so, it is capable of killing if not detected early enough.
Some doctors believe that prostate cancer begins with a condition called Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia. PIN begins to appear in some men in their twenties. Almost all men have PIN by the time they reach 50. In this condition, there are changes in the microscopic appearance (size, shape, etc.) of prostate gland cells. These changes are classified as either low-grade, meaning they appear almost normal, or high-grade, meaning that they look abnormal. Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of -control growth of abnormal cells.
Medical experts say they do not yet completely understand the causes of prostate cancer. But some researchers have come up with what they consider as factors that increase the risk of getting it. These include:
Age factor
Generally, the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About two thirds of all prostate cancers are found in men above 65 years of age.
Genetic factor
Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which invariably indicates an inherited or genetic factor. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young at the time the cancer was found. As a matter of fact, research has proven that there are some families where every male has been known to have prostate cancer, though there are factors that are minor because most of the time, it is genetic.
Prostate cancer can be often found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. Prostate cancer may also be found when your doctor does a Digital Rectal Examination, in which the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum. This is possible because the prostate gland lies just in front of the rectum where the doctor can feel whether there are many bumps or hard areas in the prostate. And if there are, that means the individual will need further testing to see if there is a cancer. A biopsy is usually done for confirmation. If you have routine yearly exams and either one of these test results becomes abnormal, then any cancer you might have has likely been found at an early, more treatable stage.
However, experts say if the prostate cancer is advanced, you might have blood in your urine (hematuria) or trouble getting an erection (impotence). Advanced prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones which can cause pain in the hips, spines, ribs or other areas. Cancer that spread to the spine can also cause it to press on the spinal nerves which can result in weakness or numbness in the legs or feet or even loss of bladder or bowel control.
Prevention of prostate cancer
Though people believe that lifestyle and diet can actually help, medical experts say that since prostate cancer has more to do with one’s genes than any other factor, the best bet for every male adult is to always have medical check-up to facilitate early detection. It is always advisable for every male above 45 years to always see a doctor and do the Prostate Specific Antigen for early detection. That is very important because you can still treat it when it is still localized. cancer can be cured if u have it already. Need cancer cure info CLICK HERE
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