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Prostate Cancer Warning Signs
Prostate Cancer
Warning Signs - Introduction
Prostate
cancer is the leading cancer in men in the United States. It often
appears slowly over time making appearance of warning signs easy to
miss.
The earlier you discover the signs
and symptoms of prostate cancer, the quicker treatment is started and
the better chance you have of a complete cure. Prostate cancer is known
to spread (known as metastasize) to lymph
nodes, bones and the lungs thus causing cancerous growth in those
organs as well.
Prostate
Cancer Warning Signs - What are they?
Many
cases of prostate cancer don't show any early warning signs. Indeed,
some men discover they have prostate problems during regular physical
examination by their family doctor.
Some general signs and symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- blood in urine
- frequent urination during the night
- difficulty starting and stopping urination
- weak urine stream
- unable to urinate
- pain during ejaculation
- chronic low-grade bone pain in the lower back
or thighs
Notice that
many of these signs and symptoms are similar to men suffering
from an enlarged prostate.
Are
there any earlier prostate cancer warning signs?
Unfortunately
there is not much. However there are risk factors that do
increase
your chance of developing prostate cancer.
They include the following:
- over the age of 55 years old
- highest risk starts at 65 years old (over 80%)
- diet high in animal fats
- high blood levels of testosterone
- race (African-Americans have the highest rate)
- exposure to environmental toxins at work (for
example cadmium)
What
can I do for an earlier detection of possible prostate cancer?
A
regular checkup with your family doctor is the best way as potential
prostate cancer is detected earlier using the following tests.
| Tests |
The procedure and what are the
warning signs |
| PSA Levels |
A blood test can be done to measure the
prostate-specific antigen
(PSA). Prostate cancer cells make a lot of this and a high PSA reading
is an early sign of possible prostate
cancer.
|
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
|
Your doctor can use a gloved finger to
enter into your rectum to feel the prostate gland for any unusual lumps.
This is an uncomfortable (but not painful) procedure that can be done
in the doctor's office.
|
| Biopsy |
If
there is evidence to suggest possible prostate
cancer, doctors can use
a needle inserted into the prostate gland (often at several locations)
to extract some cells for analysis. This is a simple surgical procedure
usually done under local anesthetic in a surgical clinic or hospital.
This is the definitive way to confirm the presence of prostate cancer.
Gleason
system - A scale of 1 to 10 indicating how fast the cancer
cells grow. 1 is the slowest and 10 indicates a very fast growing
tumour.
Staging
- A scale of I to IV indicates the extent of the spread of the cancer
cells. Stage I indicates the cancer has not spread to any other organs
(very good news indeed). Stage IV means the prostate cancer has spread
to other body parts.
|
| Ultrasound |
A
painless ultrasound procedure can be done to see the general structure
of the prostate glands and to detect possible abnormal prostate tissues.
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Any form of prostate cancer warning signs must not be ignored or
treatment may be delayed.
The
earlier prostate cancer is detected, the better chance of a complete
cure. If you are over the age of 55, annual checkups with your family
doctor for early detection of prostate cancer is a must.
Our artitle Prostate Cancer provides answers to frequently asked questions about this health problem. See the list of Natural Remedies for Prostate Cancer that you can use.
Related Articles and Resources
Prostate Cancer - FAQ's and Video Introduction
Natural Remedies for Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Diet
Return to Prostate Cancer
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