Prostate cancer grows in the prostate gland, which is a part of men’s reproductive system and is a male’s major identity during birth. The growth of this cancer is very slow, and that’s why people diagnose it during the years of old age, and most of them do not go for treatment, and it remains untreated for the rest of their lives. The prostate gland’s main function is that it secretes fluid which mixes with the semen to make it more fertile and good to go for pregnancy; this gland develops cells that grow uncontrollably, causing cancer. The prostate gland is walnut-shaped and located below the urinary bladder. In India and across the world, prostate cancer is common among men aged between 50 – 60 years old, and most of them get diagnosed before cancer reaches the prostate gland; most men do not even require the treatment and are living a normal life unknowingly.
The exact cause of the prostate gland is still unknown, but many other factors show the symptoms of a man having prostate cancer. Suppose you have a family history of prostate or prostate cancer. In that case, it can also be the cause because family history and genetics play a crucial role in what kind of inheritance we carry forward. Age is another factor for having prostate cancer because the chances of prostate cancer increase as you reach near old age, and other life factors like unfit physical health, unhealthy lifestyle, obesity, eating bad and junk food, and lots of packaged and processed food for a prolonged period, will lead to starting creating problems in the prostate. Eventually, it leads to prostate cancer over the years.
Now the symptoms of prostate cancer are not noticeable in the initial years. Still, as time passes, the disease also processes and makes the body degraded and affects daily life activities like :
- Over the years, men develop pain in the abdomen, lower back, and areas of the hips. It will also cause discomfort during sitting and changing positions and affect daily activities. The pain and discomfort increase so much after years that it may result in painful ejaculation during sexual practices.
- It will also affect your urinary bladder in such a way that you will get the urge for urine frequently, especially during the night time, slight pain while urinating, difficulty in starting and ending urine, and also it is seen to have weak urine pass in case of prostate cancer and feeling of incomplete urination will lead to discomfort.
- When someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer, then over the years, he will experience problems related to urinary tract infection and pain during urination. Also, blood in urine and semen will lead to a more degraded situation, and the person should immediately consult a doctor.
- During sexual practices, facing erectile dysfunction and having difficulty maintaining and achieving the state of erection is also a major symptom of prostate cancer.
Although these symptoms are also applicable in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is also a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland, many people confuse these symptoms with prostate cancer. As in most cases, the diagnosis came to know after years and towards the initial years of old age after 50-60, but those who were diagnosed in the initial years of life found it hard to overcome the pain and struggle hence getting proper treatment from healthcare professionals will somehow help in the treatment plan.
Detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer require various methods and tests, like as a biopsy or taking a tissue sample from the area where the prostate gland is located and then examining it under a microscope to diagnose the presence of cancer cells and the prostate-antigen test, which measure the level of prostate-specific antigen test and helps in the detection of the presence of prostate cancer and another physical rectal examination test in which the doctor inserts a finger inside the rectum to check the disabilities of prostate glands.
Now the treatment required to cure or treat prostate cancer comes with some challenging steps, like radiotherapy, in which the X-rays are used to kill the cancer cells present in the prostate gland, and hormone therapy involves the process of lowering the testosterone levels in the blood, which cures the cancer cells. In other cases, chemotherapy is being done to destroy cancer cells permanently, and surgery is the last option to remove the whole prostate gland to get rid of the origin of cancerous cells.
So prostate cancer is the most common yet very serious cancer, but it is difficult to get the cure on time if an early diagnosis is made. Still, it is mostly detected in the late 50. So a good lifestyle and eating fit will be beneficial for mens to avoid getting prostate cancer.