Q. I don't know much about the prostate, but I'd like to learn more. For instance, what is the prostate, how does it work, and what do I need to know to stay healthy?
A. Some of my patients know quite a lot about the prostate gland, while others are just now learning about the prostate. The amount of information available regarding prostate health can seem overwhelming. The good news is that you don't have to be a prostate expert to get a grasp on prostate health. Simply gathering a few facts about the prostate, discussing the topic with your healthcare provider, and making an informed decision about your healthcare screenings will put you on the right path.
Below are some answers to some common prostate questions to get you started.
What is the prostate and what does it do?
The prostate is a gland in men that helps make semen - the fluid that carries sperm. The prostate is located around the tube that transports urine from the bladder out of the body. While a young man's prostate is approximately the size of a walnut, it usually grows larger with age.
What are some common prostate concerns?
Several common prostate problems include:
• prostatitis: an infection, usually caused by bacteria
• benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): an enlarged prostate, which may cause dribbling after urination, slowing of the urinary stream or frequent urination.
• prostate cancer: a very common cancer that responds best to treatment when detected early
Fortunately, most prostate problems are not cancer, and having a problem with your prostate does not appear to raise your chance of getting prostate cancer.
Who is at risk for prostate problems?
Age is a key factor when it comes to prostate problems. As men age both, BPH and prostate cancer become more common. Prostate trouble is common in men after age 50. However, men in their 30s and 40s can also have trouble with their prostate, though it is less common.
When it comes to prostate cancer, there are other key risk factors in addition to age:
• Race: African American men are more at risk while Hispanic/Latino and Asian-American men are less likely to develop prostate cancer.
• Family history: Prostate cancer is known to run in families. Men who have a father or a brother who has had prostate cancer have twice the risk of developing prostate cancer than a man without a family history of the disease.
• Eating Habits: Diets rich in fats, especially red meat and other animal fats, may possibly contribute to a higher risk of prostate cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, while one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 35 will die of this disease.
While prostate cancer is often slow-growing, it should not be underestimated as a serious cancer. With an estimated 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer and 28,660 deaths from this disease in the U.S. in 2008, prostate cancer is only second to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in men.
What are common symptoms of prostate cancer and other prostate problems?
Typically, cancer grows very slowly within the prostate, and most often it causes no symptoms in its early stages. Urinary symptoms are most often due to benign, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate (BPH).
However, symptoms of prostate cancer and other non-cancerous problems are often similar, as either condition may cause the prostate to become enlarged. Once a tumor, benign or cancerous, causes the prostate to swell, or the cancer spreads to surrounding tissue, it may cause a man to experience:
• a frequent need to urinate
• problems stopping, starting, or maintaining the urinary stream
• discomfort during urination or ejaculation
• the presence of blood in urine or semen
In the cases of advanced prostate cancer, symptoms include:
• persistent aches or stiffness in the pelvis, ribs, upper thighs or lower back
• loss of weight
• lack of appetite
• fatigue
• nausea
If you notice any of the above signs or symptoms, consult your physician. Only your doctor can determine the cause of your symptoms.
What prostate screenings are available and who should get them?
The earlier the diagnosis, the more likely the disease can be treated when it is isolated and confined to the prostate, often before there are any symptoms. That is why prostate screenings can play an important role as a first stop in the diagnostic process.
Two common prostate screening tools are:
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test: PSA is a protein produced by the prostate. When there's a problem with the prostate, more PSA can be released, until it reaches a level considered above "normal."
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A prostate that is irregular in size, shape, or texture can often be detected through a DRE, during which a healthcare provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and examines the prostate.
The American Cancer Society recommends that the PSA blood test and DRE be offered yearly to men, beginning at age 50. Men at a higher risk should talk to their physicians about getting screened as early as 40.
- Urologist Kenneth Sparr, MD, treats all conditions of the urinary tract in men and women, especially kidney stones and prostate disease. To make an appointment, please call Monroe Clinic at 608-324-2300.
A. Some of my patients know quite a lot about the prostate gland, while others are just now learning about the prostate. The amount of information available regarding prostate health can seem overwhelming. The good news is that you don't have to be a prostate expert to get a grasp on prostate health. Simply gathering a few facts about the prostate, discussing the topic with your healthcare provider, and making an informed decision about your healthcare screenings will put you on the right path.
Below are some answers to some common prostate questions to get you started.
What is the prostate and what does it do?
The prostate is a gland in men that helps make semen - the fluid that carries sperm. The prostate is located around the tube that transports urine from the bladder out of the body. While a young man's prostate is approximately the size of a walnut, it usually grows larger with age.
What are some common prostate concerns?
Several common prostate problems include:
• prostatitis: an infection, usually caused by bacteria
• benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): an enlarged prostate, which may cause dribbling after urination, slowing of the urinary stream or frequent urination.
• prostate cancer: a very common cancer that responds best to treatment when detected early
Fortunately, most prostate problems are not cancer, and having a problem with your prostate does not appear to raise your chance of getting prostate cancer.
Who is at risk for prostate problems?
Age is a key factor when it comes to prostate problems. As men age both, BPH and prostate cancer become more common. Prostate trouble is common in men after age 50. However, men in their 30s and 40s can also have trouble with their prostate, though it is less common.
When it comes to prostate cancer, there are other key risk factors in addition to age:
• Race: African American men are more at risk while Hispanic/Latino and Asian-American men are less likely to develop prostate cancer.
• Family history: Prostate cancer is known to run in families. Men who have a father or a brother who has had prostate cancer have twice the risk of developing prostate cancer than a man without a family history of the disease.
• Eating Habits: Diets rich in fats, especially red meat and other animal fats, may possibly contribute to a higher risk of prostate cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, while one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 35 will die of this disease.
While prostate cancer is often slow-growing, it should not be underestimated as a serious cancer. With an estimated 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer and 28,660 deaths from this disease in the U.S. in 2008, prostate cancer is only second to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in men.
What are common symptoms of prostate cancer and other prostate problems?
Typically, cancer grows very slowly within the prostate, and most often it causes no symptoms in its early stages. Urinary symptoms are most often due to benign, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate (BPH).
However, symptoms of prostate cancer and other non-cancerous problems are often similar, as either condition may cause the prostate to become enlarged. Once a tumor, benign or cancerous, causes the prostate to swell, or the cancer spreads to surrounding tissue, it may cause a man to experience:
• a frequent need to urinate
• problems stopping, starting, or maintaining the urinary stream
• discomfort during urination or ejaculation
• the presence of blood in urine or semen
In the cases of advanced prostate cancer, symptoms include:
• persistent aches or stiffness in the pelvis, ribs, upper thighs or lower back
• loss of weight
• lack of appetite
• fatigue
• nausea
If you notice any of the above signs or symptoms, consult your physician. Only your doctor can determine the cause of your symptoms.
What prostate screenings are available and who should get them?
The earlier the diagnosis, the more likely the disease can be treated when it is isolated and confined to the prostate, often before there are any symptoms. That is why prostate screenings can play an important role as a first stop in the diagnostic process.
Two common prostate screening tools are:
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test: PSA is a protein produced by the prostate. When there's a problem with the prostate, more PSA can be released, until it reaches a level considered above "normal."
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A prostate that is irregular in size, shape, or texture can often be detected through a DRE, during which a healthcare provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and examines the prostate.
The American Cancer Society recommends that the PSA blood test and DRE be offered yearly to men, beginning at age 50. Men at a higher risk should talk to their physicians about getting screened as early as 40.
- Urologist Kenneth Sparr, MD, treats all conditions of the urinary tract in men and women, especially kidney stones and prostate disease. To make an appointment, please call Monroe Clinic at 608-324-2300.
