Health Blog

Guys, Let’s Talk About Your Prostate Health

Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men? Now… are you asking yourself, "Should I get screened for prostate cancer?" You must make that decision for yourself. That's why it's so important to talk about screening with your doctor. You may feel a bit anxious about this conversation, but remember, there's a great deal at stake—your family, lifestyle, and quality of life.

Guys

Name a gland in the male body that is essential for fertility but not for erections and just happens to enlarge, rather than shrink, with age. That’s right, the prostate.

Men’s health awareness is all about educating men on preventable health issues and the importance of talking to your doctor, which also involves reviewing some crucial facts about the prostate gland.

Well for one, only men have a prostate. This walnut-shaped gland is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body.

The main job of the prostate is to help make fluid for semen to help protect and energize the sperm. Semen protects the sperm so it can fertilize the egg and form a new life. The seminal vesicles, found next to the prostate, also add fluid to semen.

Men with any problems when urinating should talk to their doctor. Because of its location inside the pelvis, there are no self-exams for men to check their own prostate. Doctors use two tests to check prostate health: digital rectal examination (DRE) and a blood test called prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

What are the most common prostate health problems?

  1. Non-cancerous enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia – BPH)
  2. Inflammatory disease (prostatitis)
  3. Prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer & Screening

All men are at risk for prostate cancer. Out of every 100 American men, about 13 will get prostate cancer during their lifetime. The most common risk factor is age. The older you are, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer. But some men are at an increased risk for prostate cancer, like if you are African American or have a family history of prostate cancer.

Different people have different symptoms, and some men don’t show any signs at all. But in rare cases, prostate cancer can show symptoms, such as:

  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder completely
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t go away
  • Painful ejaculation

Keep in mind that symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer. Aside from prostate cancer, non-cancerous enlarged prostate a.k.a. benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and inflammatory disease a.k.a. prostatitis are two of the most common prostate health problems. Both of which are conditions we treat at Community Care. Remember, symptoms are symptoms, and no matter what is causing them, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor.

Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to find cancer early that may spread if not treated. There is no standard test to screen for prostate cancer. Though two tests that are commonly used are:

  • A blood test called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. PSA is a substance your prostate makes. This test measures the level of PSA in your blood. Your PSA level may be high if you have prostate cancer and many other reasons, such as having an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection, or taking certain medicines.
  • Digital rectal examination (DRE), when a health care provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into a man’s rectum to feel the prostate for anything abnormal, such as cancer.

Keeping a Healthy Prostate

When you take care of your prostate health, you give yourself the best chance to prevent and control prostate cancer.

  1. Maintain a well-balanced diet. It’s probably not your favorite food, but green, leafy vegetables are an excellent step toward a healthy prostate. Green, leafy veggies are full of essential vitamins and antioxidants that keep you and your prostate healthy.
  2. Get some Vitamin D! Don’t altogether ditch sunscreen, but don’t hide from the sun either. The sun gives us a lot of valuable vitamin D, which is a great way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, while also helping you stay healthy in other ways, too. For example, Vitamin D is good for your heart, kidneys, and pancreas health.
  3. Get the recommended screenings. Prostate cancer screening recommendations vary depending on whether you’re high-risk or a normal risk. If you are at a higher risk, you should consider getting screened for prostate cancer starting at age 40. On the other hand, if you are at normal risk, we encourage you to consider screenings beginning at age 55.

Thinking About Getting Screened?

With all these varying circumstances, it’s helpful to become aware of physical changes with your body, which may signal prostate cancer symptoms. For example, you may experience difficulty starting urination, weak or interrupted urine flow, and pain or burning during urination. We urge you to talk to your doctor about these changes. If you are thinking about being screened, you and your doctor should consider:

  • If you have an increased risk of getting prostate cancer
  • If you have any health problems that may make it harder for you to be treated for prostate cancer if it is found, or that may make you less likely to benefit from screening
  • How you feel about the possible benefits and harms of screening, diagnosis, and treatment

Here are some questions you can ask your doctor about prostate cancer screening:

  1. Am I at a greater risk for prostate cancer?
  2. At what age should I start to think about screening for prostate cancer?
  3. If I get my blood test, and it is not normal, what other things could I have besides prostate cancer?
  4. What is a biopsy, and how is it done?
  5. What are the side effects or risks of a biopsy?
  6. If my biopsy shows some cancer cells, what does that mean?
  7. Ask about all treatment options: close monitoring and follow-up visits, radiation, or surgery to remove the prostate.
  8. What are the side effects or risks of each treatment?

Prostate Care at CCP

When treated in its earliest stages, prostate cancer can be cured. Early detection through regular screening is essential. While the PSA and DRE screening tests can suspect cancer, the actual diagnosis can only be made with a prostate biopsy performed by a urologist. If you have any questions or concerns and would like to meet with a urologist, please schedule a visit with one of our urology specialists. We have two urology office locations in Latham and Clifton Park to better serve you! Our urologists and specialty teams at Community Care are here to offer you urologic care with compassion and understanding so you are comfortable throughout the entire process. At Community Care Urology, we treat men for various conditions relating to the bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, and adrenal glands. We manage and treat disorders related to the epididymis, penis, prostate, seminal vesicles, and testes. We know every situation is unique, and we are here to listen, diagnose and treat you to improve your quality of life. Visit our website to learn more about our services.

 

Sources
www.cdc.gov
www.hopkinsmedicine.org
www.pcf.org
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