The prostate is the gland in the male’s reproductive system that wraps around the urethra at the exit of the bladder. There are several issues that may arise in the prostate including benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis, acute bacterial prostatitis, and chronic bacterial prostatitis.
In men over the age of 50, prostate cancer is fairly common. This is especially true for African American men and in men who eat a lot of fatty foods. Prostate cancer is also hereditary, so if a male has a father or a brother who has prostate cancer he is more likely to develop it as well.
To diagnose prostate cancer a tissue biopsy will be conducted. Initial tests may include an ultrasound, tests for PSA antigen levels, and/or a rectal examination.
Males over the age of fifty should have a yearly prostate examination done. A rectal examination may be recommended if a male has elevated levels of PSA.
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in men. Identifying this cancer early can prevent or delay the spread of the disease and may even prevent death from it. This is why it is important to know the early warning signs of prostate cancer and to be tested yearly for the disease.
Here are a few of the symptoms of prostate cancer that you should be aware of.
1. Frequent Need to Urinate
As we age it is common to have to urinate more frequently. However, in men, when the need to urinate is frequent and almost urgent, it could be the sign of an underlying issue such as prostate cancer.
When there are tumors present in the prostate it puts pressure on the urethra. This causes a person to feel the need to urinate more frequently. An enlarged prostate is one of the early signs of this disease. This is why it is important to have a prostate examination done on a yearly basis.
