Risk Factors, Signs and Symptoms of Prostrate Cancer

Prostrate cancer is a type of cancer that attacks prostrate. Prostrate is a male organ responsible for seminal fluid, which is used to transport and support sperm. Any male can develop prostate cancer. But there are specific risk factors, which increase a person’s chances of developing the disease. We will discuss those risk factors, symptoms and treatments of prostrate cancer in this article.

Men who are above the age of 50 are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than their young counterparts. But it hardly goes to prove that young men won’t or cannot be diagnosed with prostrate cancer. But the likelihood of young male being affected with it is substantially lower.

It has also been found that African-American men are also more susceptible to prostrate cancer than others. The testosterone level in these men is higher than their counterparts in other region or countries. And testosterone is responsible for stimulating prostate gland growth. Keeping this reason in mind, men who have taken testosterone therapy or who suffer from hypergonadism are at a comparatively greater risk for prostate cancer.

Third risk factor for prostrate cancer is high-fat diets or the men who suffer from obesity. Obesity also increases the chances of developing prostate cancer. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are also at an increased risk. Men who have had a vasectomy are also more likely to get prostate cancer. This observation has been questioned and more research is underway to prove it.

Next, we will discuss signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. These are the symptoms that men should watch for, specially the men coming under high-risk bracket- men who are above 50 or are on high fat diet and suffer obesity and me who have had a vasectomy or have taken testosterone therapy.

The symptoms for prostrate cancer include an urgent need to urinate. Also when one faces difficulty while starting urination is a sign to watch out for. A man with prostate cancer may also experience a dull lingering pain in the lower pelvic region, hips, upper thighs or back.

A weak flow of urination, or a flow that breaks up in between urination is also a sign of prostate cancer. Some patients may also frequently urinate at night. They may feel pain while urinating or may notice blood in the urine.

In specific cases a male with prostate cancer may experience painful ejaculation. He may also undergo an unexplained loss of body weight, suffer pain in the bones that cannot subside. As a rare case a man with prostate cancer may not show or experience any symptom at all. This is the reason many a times prostate cancer is not detected until it is late and has spread to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer is curable in majority of cases when diagnosed on time.