As we grow older, some health issues become more common, and for men over 50, prostate cancer stands out. Apart from non-melanoma skin cancer, this type stands as the most common cancer among men diagnosed in the US. Other things that increase your chances include having prostate cancer in your family, being African-American, and carrying extra weight. What’s more, it holds the second spot for male cancer deaths in the US, with only lung cancer causing more fatalities. September is prostate cancer awareness month, so let’s get the details.
How Is Prostate Cancer Detected?
The prostate is a small gland in men that looks like a walnut. It makes the seminal fluid that feeds and moves sperm. Prostate cancer usually grows at a slow pace and stays within the prostate gland. It rarely causes symptoms in the early stages, but it can quickly progress and spread. In it’s more advanced stages, you may have the following signs, according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Concerns about urinating.
- Decreased force in the stream of urine.
- Urine that contains blood.
- Semen that contains blood.
- Bone pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Erectile dysfunction.
Prostate cancer detection happens through a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test or a digital rectal exam (DRE). The PSA test checks the amount of PSA, a protein the prostate makes, in your blood. Higher levels might point to prostate cancer, but doctors often need to do more tests to be sure.
Why You Need to Get Tested
One of the most important things you can do to manage your health is to be examined for prostate cancer. Identifying it increases the likelihood that you will be able to defeat it. If your medical provider can discover it in a timely manner, you have a 90% survival rate. Overall, if you’re concerned about the chance of having prostate cancer, you should talk to your doctor.
Screenings can save your life, so don’t wait. Talk to your doctor about when you should start getting tested, especially if you’re over 50 or have any of the risk factors mentioned. Your health is worth the time and effort it takes to get screened.
