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Prostate Cancer: A brief insight

Today we going to have a brief insight on what prostate cancer is.
What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland of the male reproductive system. It's also known as carcinoma of the prostate.

Only males can suffer for prostate cancer because prostate gland is found only in males. It makes some of the fluid that is part of semen.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

At early stage, prostate cancer appears to be asymptotic (has no symptoms).

Prostate cancer often cause symptoms like:
- Painful urination (dysuria)
- Hematuria (blood in urine
- Nocturia (increase urination at night)
- Painful ejaculation
- Difficulty achieving erection
Prostate cancer can also spread to other parts of the body and hence causing additional symptoms like
- Pains in the vertebra bones
- Pains in the Pelvis
- Pains in the Ribs
- Leg weakness

What are the Risk factors of Prostate Cancer?

Understanding the actual cause of prostate cancer has remain unclear.

The primary risk factors of Prostate Cancer include:
- Age
- Family history
- Obesity
- Infectious diseases
- Genetic
- Medications

- Age

Prostate cancer is very rare in younger men than in aged men.

Younger men below the age of 45 rarely suffer for prostate cancer.

Aged men above the age of 50 are at high risk of developing prostate cancer.

Scientific studies of Chinese, German, Israeli, Jamaican, Swedish, and Ugandan men who died of other causes have found prostate cancer in 30% of men in their fifties, and in 80% of men in their seventies.

- Family History

Studies have shown that men whose family members suffer for prostate cancer have high risk of developing prostate cancer than men whose family members does not.

This risk appears to be greater for men with an affected brother than for men with an affected father.

- Obesity

Men who are obese are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer and even other forms of cancer.

There is a small increased risk of prostate cancer associated with lack of exercise.

- Infectious Diseases

Certain infectious diseases have been associated with prostate cancer.

For instance, an association with gonorrhea has been found, but a mechanism for this relationship is yet to be identified.

- Genetic

Genetic factors can also contribute to development of Prostate Cancer.

However, no single gene is responsible for prostate cancer though many different genes have been implicated.

Mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been implicated in prostate cancer.

- Medication

Exposure to certain medications, medical procedures and medical conditions have been linked to prostate cancer and even other types of cancers.

There is an association between vasectomy  (The surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens)  and prostate cancer but more research is needed to determine if this is a causative relationship.

Diagnosis

There are numerous tests for diagnosis of prostrate cancer but the only test that can fully confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer is a biopsy, (the removal of small pieces of the prostate for microscopic examination). Though, prior to a biopsy, less invasive testing can be conducted.

How to Prevent Prostate Cancer

The following measures are to be taken into consideration when preventing prostrate cancer they include:

1. Diet

Consumption of less western foods can help prevent prostrate cancer and cancers in general.

Eating foods rich in the good fats (polyunsaturated fats) and low in the bad fats (saturated fats) can also help reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer.

High in take of vegetables and fruits also helps to reduce the risk of developing cancers in general.

2. Lifestyle

Adopting certain lifestyle can help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Regular exercise has proven to reduce cancers in general as well as cardiovascular diseases.

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