Prostate cancer is a serious disease that affects men around the world. Although most men close to the age sixty are mainly affected, there are some who are diagnosed with prostate cancer as early as their forties, which is why it’s always recommended to get regular checkups for proper prostate health in order to catch early symptoms of prostate cancer.
To better understand exactly why it`s important to have regular screening tests for prostate cancer, consider the dangers and early warning signs of the disease along with the treatment options available for each stage.
Diseases and Conditions – Prostate Cancers and Early Symptoms
Early symptoms in prostate cancer are generally difficult to identify since the symptoms are either non-existent or very similar to many other common illnesses like benign prostatic hyperplasia. Some of the early symptoms are also very close tocommon bodily functions that naturally come with age.
Since prostate cancer occurs mostly in older men, regardless of their health conditions, the causes of the symptoms are generally attributed to old age and ignored until other more serious symptoms arise. This is the main reason why men live with problems like benign prostatic hyperplasia or even prostate cancerfor longer than they should have.
Considering the location and function of the prostate, most of the early symptoms are associated with urinary function. These symptoms may range from very mild to very severe that would require immediate attention.
First, consider the common symptoms associated with prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia:
- Increase in urinary frequency
- urgency to urinate
- urinary incontinence
- urinating frequently at night
- weak urinary flow
- hesitancy prior to urinating
- uneven urinary flow (start and stop often)
- straining to urinate
- excess dribbling
Now compare these common BPH symptoms with common early symptoms of prostate cancer. You will notice that the cancer symptoms are very similar to those of non-cancerous problems that occur near the prostate.
- problems with urine flow
- urinating frequently
- urgency to urinate
- urinating frequently at night
- hesitancy prior to urinating
Once you enter the stages of advanced prostate cancer, you can expect more serious symptoms like the following:
- bone pain (especially in areas like the pelvis, vertebrae and ribs)
- weight loss
- painful ejaculation
- erectile dysfunction
- swelling of the legs and feet
- blood in the urine
It`s quite evident that the severity of the symptoms greatly increase with more advanced stages of prostate cancer. When such diseases are discovered early on, men will only deal with inconvenient symptoms and have the ability to treat them before they become far more serious.
Prostate Cancers Early Symptoms and Screening Procedures
The longer it takes men to get regular screening tests for prostate cancer, the more difficult treatment will be,shouldthere be a diagnosis of cancer. Early detection is very important to ensure a healthy prostate and a body free of this difficult and unpredictable disease.
If abnormalities are detected during one of these tests, the medical practitioner will request further testing in order to properly diagnose the cause of these abnormalities.
What are the tests for prostate cancer?
There are several screening tests involved for properly diagnosing prostate cancer. The most common tests are the digital rectal examination (DRE), the prostate specific antigen test (PSA), a cystoscopy and a biopsy.
- Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
The digital rectal examination is manually performed by the doctor as one of the first regular tests that men should get each year. This procedure requires the doctor to place a gloved finger into the rectum and feel the prostate from the inside. Should there be any abnormalities felt with this procedure, further tests will be recommended to confirm what the cause may be.
- Prostate Specific Antigen Test (PSA)
PSA levels in men are a very good indicator of any problems that there may be in the body. While these protein levels vary a little from one man to another, there is a general level to indicate a normal functioning prostate.
If the protein levels are found to be higher than normal, there will be other tests to diagnose the problem. Generally, higher PSA levels in men indicate infection or disease, however to conclusively diagnose, the next step would be to have a biopsy performed.
- Cystoscopy
An exam using a cystoscopy requires a fine medical probe to enter the urethra. This probe has a very small light and lens at the tip, which allows doctors to examine the tissue down the urethra through to the prostate. Doctors are able to identify any abnormalities that may indicate infection or disease that should be treated immediately.
- Prostate Tissue Biopsy
A biopsy of the prostate tissues requires either a small incision or a probe that is inserted either through the urethra or the rectum. A small sample of prostate tissue is then carefully cut out and examined under a microscope. This is usually the final test that confirms whether or not a disease is present in the area of the prostate.
What to do When Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer?
Should a man be diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are several things that he should do in order to better understand the various options that are available for him. By speaking to a medical health professional, they will be able to check family medical history along with specific medical conditions that may affect particular forms of treatment.
The most common forms of prostate cancer treatment include the following:
Non-Invasive or Alternative Therapy Treatments
Alternative medicine is among the top choices for men who prefer natural and non-invasive treatments for early symptoms of prostate cancer. Alternative medicine will use herbs and physical therapy in the form of yoga or similar.
Choosing the best treatments will rely on several factors, which is why it’s very important to get proper consultation from medical practitioners.
Traditional Treatments for Early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
- Active Surveillance
One of the most common recommendations for men with early symptoms of prostate cancer, active surveillance requires close monitoring of the signs and symptoms to see if there are any changes. Since prostate cancer is generally a slow growing disease, changes can be very minor and in these cases, treatment may cause more damage to the body. Regular check-ups with the doctor and small changes in lifestyle are usually the routes taken for very early stages of the disease.
- Surgery
Some patients will be recommended to undergo surgery to remove the portion of tissues that have been affected by cancer. While not in every case, surgery is generally followed by radiation therapy to ensure all of the cells are destroyed, in order to prevent relapse.
