First of all, the disease is prostate cancer, not prostrate
cancer.
Much more importantly, however, is the fact that more men
are diagnosed every year with prostate cancer than women are diagnosed with
breast cancer. It’s true. You just don’t hear or read about it as much. It’s
time to change this.
The prostate gland is a mysterious, walnut-sized gland that
sits below the bladder, in front of the rectum and surrounds the urethra – and
only men have one. Its purpose is to provide fluid to propel sperm.
Most men are unaware of their prostate until it starts
giving them trouble. Around middle age, the gland can begin to enlarge and put
pressure on the bladder, making urination difficult. This is called BPH: benign
prostatic hyperplagia. It is not prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer, like many cancers, happens when something
goes “wonky” (real medical term) in the cells. We can’t always tell why, but we
do know that exposure to certain chemicals (Agent Orange, for one) can increase
the risk of prostate cancer. There is also a genetic link. If a father, brother
or other close relative has had prostate cancer, it greatly increases your risk
of developing the disease.
What should you do? As with all cancers, early diagnosis is
critical to the cure. It is recommended that every man have a baseline
screening prostate exam at age 50, but earlier if there is a family history of
prostate cancer. The exam consists of two parts: a PSA (prostatic-specific
antigen) blood test and a DRE (digital rectal exam – a finger test). If both
are normal, then these tests should be repeated annually to track any changes.
If you are at least 50 and your doctor has not mentioned a
prostate exam, be proactive by asking for one! A lot of men are reluctant to
have the DRE because it may be a little uncomfortable, but it lasts only 10 to
15 seconds. It’s far less uncomfortable than suffering a fatal case of prostate
cancer.
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