Prostate Cancer - What is your Risk?
INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the fluid that feeds and transports sperm. It is also the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States and is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.
Prostate cancer typically occurs in older men and is seldom found in men under the age of 40. It occurs in 1 out of 6 men and when confined to the gland is usually treated successfully.
RISK: Any man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Besides being male, there are a number of other factors, such as age, race, and family history that may add to your risk. Those at higher risk include African-American males past 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises with age, and 60% of newly found cases occur in men past the age of 70.
The greatest risk factor is age. This risk increases significantly after the age of 50 in white males who have no known family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in african american men as well as those who have a close relative with the disease. Having a brother with prostate cancer seems to increase your risk more than an affected father does. That risk becomes higher when there are multiple family members affected.
SYMPTOMS: May include Problems such as urinating pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling, Low back pain, Painful ejaculation. A lot of men experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Symptoms are more apt to appear as the cancer grows.
TREATMENT: May include surgery, radiation therapy, drugs or control of hormones that affect the cancer. It often depends on the stage of the cancer and appropriate treatment is often very controversial.
Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of available treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. A radical prostatectomy is often recommended for treatment of stages A and B.
CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men past 75 years of age. Frequently there are no symptoms in its early stages. If it has spread, it may be treated with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the gland, or chemotherapy.
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