Prostate cancer: What men need to know

As bosom cancer is common in women above 45

years of age, so is prostate cancer in men above

the age of 60.

Prostate cancer is a disease which affects only

men and it affects the prostate -- a gland in the

male reproductive system.

Statistics by the National Cancer Registry estimate

that one out of six men in the world will be

diagnosed with prostate cancer before their golden

jubilee.

Though statistics on this cancer is lacking in

Nigeria, experts say the incidence is increasing. So,

there are odds that one could have a father,

grandfather, husband, brother or friend living with

this disease at any time.

But the cheering news is that, experts say, it is

preventable and treatable when detected early

before irreversible damage has been done to the

prostate.

Why should men be worried about this cancer?

Apart from the fact that it affects their sexuality, it

can also send the victim to an early grave.

Early detection is a challenge here, as many men

are not likely to see their doctor unless it's an

emergency. But this may be dangerous, doctors

advise. Indeed, physicians say there is an

appreciable increase in the number of men being

diagnosed with this disease.

A consultant urologist, Dr. Sam Adeleke, says unlike

in the past when only old men were diagnosed with

the disease, doctors now see younger men with

prostate cancer, hence, men of all ages must watch

out.

Adeleke states that many men would die without

even knowing they had the disease, as it usually

has no symptoms. A few lucky ones may

experience the warning signs, especially those at

the advanced stages, physicians say.

Experts say the following factors may increase

your risk of getting prostate cancer and advise that

if four of these eight factors apply to you, then you

must see a doctor to erase all doubts.

Being Black

Black men have the highest rate of prostate cancer

diagnosis and death in the world, according to the

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta,

United States of America.

"Worse, black men seem to get more severe form,

are more likely to have the cancer come back after

treatment and are more likely to die of this

disease," Dr. Jane Worthington says. She

recommends tests every year, starting at age 40.

Family History

A man is twice as likely to get the disease if he has

one first-degree relative -- father, brother, son --

with a history of it, according to the Prostate Cancer

Foundation.

The risk goes up if more relatives are affected,

Worthington says.

She states, "It may be as high as 50 per cent if

three family members (father and two brothers, for

example) have had it, if it occurs in three

generations (grandfather, father, son) or if two

relatives developed it younger than 55 years old."

And don't forget the women in the family. The

expert adds that prostate cancer risk can be

inherited from the mother's family as well. So, ask

about your maternal family history.

Being over 50

The older the man, the higher his risk. "In men

between 40-49, the risk of developing prostate

cancer is one in 50," Worthington says. From

60-79, it's one in seven. But don't wait till you are

60 before you take a PSA test. "Prostate cancer

screening should start at age 40," Worthington

notes.

Heavy Weight

Being overweight or obese is a prostate cancer

risk, according to many studies. Researchers found

that men who put on extra weight in their 20s and

30s face a higher risk.

"A study by the American Cancer Society found that

men with a BMI greater than 30 were 20-25 per

cent were more likely to die of prostate cancer than

thinner men," Worthington warns.

Experts believe that too much body fat throws off

the body's normal production of insulin and

testosterone, which may fuel growth of prostate

cancer cells.

But that's not just the fear of prostate cancer here,

as too much belly fat and a high-fat diet can also

raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Fatty Foods

Eating fatty and fried food is also a problem.

"Dietary fat may not only help cause prostate

cancer, but it may also affect the way it progresses

-- how fast cancer cells proliferate, their ability to

spread and the body's ability to fight off this

invasion," Worthington explains.

Foods high in saturated fats, especially from animal

products such as red meat and dairy, appear to be

the worst dietary trigger for prostate cancer,

Worthington says.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking gives cancer cells a comfy place

to grow, Worthington says.

"Research doesn't yet show that smoking causes

prostate cancer, but it has proven that a nicotine

habit can help it grow faster and more

aggressively. Tell him to stop smoking now,"

Worthington advises.

Urinary Troubles

"If he gets up frequently in the middle of the night to

urinate, he could have problems with his prostate,"

Adeleke counsels.

This is because the urethra, the tube that carries

urine and Fluid, runs right through the middle of the

prostate like a straw, experts say.

Urinary troubles often signal benign prostatic

hyperplasia -- a non-cancerous enlargement of the

gland that's common in men older than 40. Still, any

changes in urination -- including pain, weak flow,

difficulty starting or stopping, frequent night time

urination, or blood in the urine or Fluid -- should be

evaluated by a doctor.

Painful Bowel Movement

Because the prostate lives on the other side of the

rectal wall, prostate enlargement or cancer can

often cause pain during a bowel movement. This,

along with a bloody stool, may also be a symptom

of colorectal cancer.

(Source: unknown)