Prostate Cancer – Who’s At 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 occurs more often in older males and is rarely found in men younger than 40. It occurs in 1 out of every 6 men and when confined to the gland is often treated successfully.
RISK: Every man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Along with being male, there are other risk factors, such as age, race, and family history that may contribute to the overall risk. Men at greater risk include African-America men over 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises significantly with age, and 60 percent of recently diagnosed cases occur in men over the age of 70.
The greatest risk factor is your age. This risk increases greatly after the age of 50 in caucasian men who have no family record of the disease and after the age of 40 in black men and males who have a close relative with the cancer. Having a brother with the disease appears to increase your risk more than having an affected father does. That risk is even greater 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 all treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Gland Removal (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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