Don't ignore the signs of prostate problems

(NC) – Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men. This type of cancer usually grows slowly and can often be cured or managed successfully . Many men with this disease never have symptoms, do not receive therapy, and eventually die of other causes. The cancer grows slowly near the bladder and when detected early, can be cured or managed successfully. Therefore, the most important health responsibility for men is to know their own body, recognize signs of change, and speak up about it to a medical professional.

“It is quite natural for men over 60 to experience physical changes,” says Dr. Doug Tkachuk at LifeLabs, a leading diagnostic test centre. “Most discomforts are not life-threatening, but it is important to monitor even minor changes. Expert opinion is required because some of the symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to those of normal aging.

“Urination is a good illustration of this. As a man gets older, the prostate may become enlarged and block the urethra, or bladder. An enlarged prostate is a common condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), but BPH is not cancer. On the other hand, a tumour on the prostate can also press on the urethra making it difficult to pass urine, so medical testing is required to confirm a diagnosis.”

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It’s about the size of a plum located close to the rectum just below the bladder. The main function of the gland is to make part of the seminal fluid that mixes with sperm to make semen. When problems arise, the key prostate symptoms to monitor are: inability to urinate; intensely needing to urinate; a sense of incompletely emptying the bladder; the need to urinate often, especially at night; blood in the urine or semen; weak, decreased, or interrupted urine stream, and painful ejaculation.

Reduce your risk

You can’t change some of the risk factors for prostate cancer such as your age, ancestry, or family history, but what you can control is how you take care of yourself with food and exercise. Obesity is being studied as a possible risk for prostate cancer, but even so, insisting on a program of regular aerobic exercise plus a nutritious daily diet – low in saturated fat and high in fibre, vegetables and fruit – is a smart thing to do for overall good health.

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