Prostate cancer develops in the prostate – a small gland in males that produces the seminal fluid. It is a common type of cancer and usually develops gradually. In most cases, prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer develop slowly and may improve with minimal treatment, other types spread rapidly and are aggressive. Luckily, when Dr. Michael Rotman detects prostate cancer in its early stages, the chances of successful treatment are high.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
In its early stages, prostate cancer may not show symptoms, but when the abnormal cells metastasize to other parts of the body, you may have signs and symptoms such as:
- Blood in the urine
- Blood in semen
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Unintended weight loss
What causes prostate cancer?
The cause of prostate cancer is unclear, but healthcare professionals know that prostate cancer begins due to DNA changes in prostate cells. Cells receive instructions from the DNA, telling them what to do. Abnormalities or changes in the DNS structure instruct the cells to divide more rapidly than normal cells would. As the other cells die, the abnormal ones continue living, accumulating into a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Over time, some abnormal cells can break away and spread to other body parts.
Risk factors for prostate cancer
- Family history. You are more likely to develop prostate cancer if a blood relative such as a parent, child, or sibling has been diagnosed with the same illness. Your risk of prostate cancer may also be higher if there is a breast cancer predisposition in your family.
- Age. Older people above the age of 50 are at a higher risk of prostate cancer than younger males.
- Race. Unlike people of other races, black people are more likely to develop prostate cancer. For reasons yet to be established, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive in black people.
- Obesity. Individuals with a higher body mass index are more susceptible to prostate cancer than people who have a healthy weight. The cancer is also more likely to be aggressive in people with obesity and could return after the initial reason. For this reason, specialists recommend losing extra pounds and staying within your ideal weight to reduce your risk of prostate cancer and other health problems such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
How to reduce your risk of prostate cancer
- Eat a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that improve your overall health. Specialists have yet to prove whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet, but healthy foods are essential for your general well-being.
- Exercise. Making physical activity part of your everyday life can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Additionally, exercise helps you lose weight and causes your body to release endorphins, improving your mood.
- Lose extra weight. Since obesity is a risk factor for prostate cancer, losing excess weight can help you stay on the safe side.
If you need treatment for prostate cancer, visit your doctor at Urologist; Michael Rotman, MD.
