Causes & Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

September 18, 2018 Tara

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is asking Australia to get involved and help create awareness and raise the much-needed funds to assist in the fight against prostate cancer.

What Is The Prostate?

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland. It is the part of a man’s body that produces seminal fluid.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Although most prostate cancers can grow quite slowly, if you are a smoker, or are unhealthy, it can grow quite rapidly. Prostate cancer kills more men every year than breast cancer kills women, and will affect 1 in 7 men in Australia before the age of 75. Prostate cancer is 100% treatable if it is caught in its early stages, so if you are over the age of 50, and especially if there is a history of prostate cancer in your immediate family, you should have yearly prostate check-ups with your doctor.

What Are The Symptoms?

In its early stages, prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms at all. This is why it is so important to #GetChecked every year.

More advanced cases of prostate cancer cause symptoms and signs and symptoms like:

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Blood in semen
  • Discomfort in the pelvic area
  • Trouble urinating
  • Decreased force in the stream of urine
  • Bone pain

When To See A Doctor

If you have any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. If you are over 50 and there is a family history of prostate cancer, make an appointment with your doctor. It is advised to get checked yearly.

Causes

Although, like most other cancers, it is not entirely clear what causes prostate cancer. Doctors know that when cells in your prostate become abnormal, cancer can form. Accumulating abnormal cells form a tumour, which can then spread to nearby tissue. Sometimes these abnormal cells can metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Risk Factors

Factors that can intensify your risk of prostate cancer include:

Age. 

The risk of prostate cancer increases as you get older.

Race. 

For undermined reasons, black men carry a higher risk of prostate cancer than men of other races.

Family History. 

If there have been any men in your family with prostate cancer, or if there have been any women with breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2), your risk of prostate cancer is much higher.

Obesity. 

Prostate cancer is more likely to be further advanced in obese men, which is far more difficult to treat.

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer need expert support and guidance from day one. But so do partners and the rest of the family. Having an expert to turn to in every step of a cancer journey is priceless. See how you can make this possible for every man and family > https://bit.ly/2NNvzOJ

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