Each year, nearly 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it one of the most common cancers affecting people who have a prostate. That includes cisgender men, transgender women, intersex people, and non-binary people with biologically male sexual organs. Most people with a prostate have trouble urinating as they age and are usually not due to prostate cancer. Still, if you have a slow or weak urine flow, or if the urine flow starts and stops beyond your ability to control it, it's a good idea to get a prostate test.
Prostate cancer is a serious disease, but early detection is key. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and when or if you should be screened for prostate cancer, sometimes as early as age 40, if you are considered to be at high risk. Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night, sometimes urgently Difficulty starting or stopping urination. Prostate cancer that is detected early when it is still confined to the prostate gland is more likely to be successful in treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, American and Caribbean men of African descent have higher rates of prostate cancer than those of other races, and they also tend to be younger when the disease develops. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may require little or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. As the name suggests, the doctor inserts his finger and rectum to feel the prostate and detect any abnormalities. It's important to note that the signs of prostate cancer are also shared by many other, less serious conditions.
Some studies suggest that taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), may reduce the overall risk of developing prostate cancer. The good news is that prostate cancer can be cured, especially when identified and treated early. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer has long been considered a disease of the elderly, and most cases are diagnosed in men over 65 and, like most other malignancies, prostate cancer is usually more easily treated when detected at an early stage.
Cancer researchers have identified several factors that could increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually shows no signs in the early stages and must be detected by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test or a digital rectal exam. Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in Mayo Clinic Connect's prostate cancer support group, a community of patients. In some prostate cancers, it may be beneficial to block that hormone with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which can delay the cancer or even cause it to go into remission.
In addition, there may be weak and interrupted urine flow, unusual pain around the prostate when sitting, swelling in the lower back, feet and legs, abnormal bowel function or urination habits, and weight loss. If you have one or more of the five warning signs of prostate cancer, contact Cleveland Urology at (440) 891-6500 for an evaluation.
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