Prostate cancer is common. Roughly 12.5%, or one out of every eight, of men will get a diagnosis during their lifetime, according to Cancer.org. While it’s not news that they want to hear, if it’s caught early, it can be treatable through the care of a prostate cancer specialist. Here is some more information on prostate cancer.
Risk Factors
The most common risk factor is age. The older a man is, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer. Some men are at increased risk for prostate cancer. You are at increased risk for getting or dying from prostate cancer if you are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer.
Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms, including having to urinate a lot, having a weak urine flow, bloody urine, having to urinate multiple times at night, erectile dysfunction, and pain while sitting due to a larger prostate. Some of these can indicate other conditions, so you need to get them diagnosed by a medical professional before going to a prostate cancer specialist.
Prevention
While it can be impossible to completely prevent the possibility of getting prostate cancer, there are things that you can do to improve your odds of avoiding it. This includes taking prescription medicine that was originally designed to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). You can also change your diet to avoid foods that are high in fat, particularly animal fat. Instead, you can have a lot of vegetables. A sudden change might not be enough, though. You might have to start it early in your life.
Usually, prostate cancer grows slowly, but there are exceptions when it’s more aggressive. If it is caught early, it can be monitored, or you can discuss surgery or radiation. There are also hormonal therapies and chemotherapy. Your prostate cancer specialist will tell you what they think is the best option for you.
Hearing the ‘C” word is a wake-up call, for sure. Fortunately, if you have caught it early, your survival chances are excellent. Working with medical professionals will help you achieve that.
Are you looking for a prostate cancer specialist for you or a loved one? Contact Palo Verde Cancer Specialists today to learn more.
Posted 10/10/23
