Cancer and Healthy

Prostate cancer is a disease that affects most men between the ages of 40 and 80. Many men know of prostate cancer but may be less sure of details. To that end, there are several questions one can ask. Here, I hope to shed light on some of the more common ones.

One question that is oft asked is what the prostate is? The prostate is responsible for helping make the liquid used in semen. This makes the prostate important if the man in question would like children. The prostate gland is the size of a walnut and resides between the bladder and rectum.

Another question commonly asked is if there are symptoms that can mask prostate cancer or look like it? There is: typically older men will have a condition by which their prostate is enlarged. This can cause the prostate to press on the urethra causing frequent urination or painful urination. It also interferes in sexual activity. This can first appear as if it was prostate cancer It is in fact a condition called BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Another affliction that can at first appear to be prostate cancer is an inflammation of the prostate This is known as prostatitis.

Another question is how likely am I to contract prostate cancer? It primarily afflicts men of middle or advanced age. Studies have shown that black men are more at risk, but the risk increases for all men the older they get. If there is a family history of prostate cancer then your chances are increased.

Although there is no way to accurately place a percentage or number on if you will develop prostate cancer the best way to be sure is to get tested once a year once you enter middle age.