Page 11 - CCC Newsletter Summer 2019

What is The Prostate?
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system, which includes the penis, prostate, and testicles. The prostate is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder).
It produces fluid that makes up a part of semen.
As a man ages, the prostate tends to increase in size. This can cause the urethra to narrow and decrease urine flow. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it is not the same as prostate cancer. Men may also have other prostate changes that are not cancer.
What Are Your Risk Factors
There is no way to know for sure if you will get prostate cancer. As indicated by the rates of diagnosis, age is the biggest—but not the only— risk factor for prostate cancer. Other factors include:
• Frequent urination, especially at night.
• Difficulty emptying the bladder completely. • Pain or burning during urination.
• Blood in the urine or semen.
• Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t
go away.
• Painful ejaculation.
If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your healthcare provider right away. Keep in mind that these symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
Prevention & Screening Should You Get Screened?
A PSA test can find prostate cancer earlier than no screening at all. However, the PSA test may have a false positive or false negative results. This can mean that men without cancer may have abnormal results and get tests that are not necessary. It could also mean that the test could miss cancer in men who may need to
be treated. Talk to your doctor about the right decision for you.
Questions to ask your doctor about screening
• Am I at a greater risk for prostate cancer?
• At what age should I start to think about
screening for prostate cancer?
• If I get my blood test, and it is not normal,
what other things could I have besides
prostate cancer?
• What is a biopsy, and how is it done?
• What are the side effects or risks of a biopsy?
• If my biopsy shows some cancer cells, what
does that mean?
• What are the treatment options: close
monitoring and follow-up visits, radiation, or surgery to remove the prostate? •
What are the side effects or risks of each treatment?
• Familyhistory. • Geneticfactors. • Race.
• Lifestyle.
• Dietaryhabits.
Genes for disease can run in families and the risk is even higher if the affected family members were diagnosed before age 65.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for prostate cancer include:
• Tallheight.
• African-Americanrace. • Asedentarylifestyle.
• Familyhistory.
• Highcalciumintake.
• AgentOrangeexposure.
Symptoms
Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer. Some men do not have symptoms at all. Some symptoms of prostate cancer are:
• Difficulty starting urination.
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
11