The male prostate is a small gland that is roughly the size of a walnut and is situated below the bladder and just in front of the rectum. A very important gland, the prostate manufactures the fluid that helps to carry male sperm.
One significant problem which can strike the prostate is prostate cancer which is a serious and life-threatening condition that can be expected to strike roughly one man in ten and is the second most common cause of cancer related death in men these days.
So exactly how does this condition start?
Prostate cancer begins life as a malignant tumor in the prostate gland which, without treatment, is likely to spread over time into neighboring tissue and organs and into the bone and lymph nodes.
Just what are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Nearly three-quarters of people suffering from this disease are over the age of 65.
Men who have close blood relatives like a father or grandfather who have suffered from cancer of the prostate are up to eleven times more likely to suffer from prostate cancer.
The death rate in men with this condition increases with weight and is particularly high in men who are obese.
Caucasian men are over two times more likely to contract this disease than those of African decent.
Is there anything I can do to stop myself getting prostate cancer?
In reality there is nothing you can do to stop yourself from contracting this disease although there is some belief that eating a healthy diet can lower your risk from this particular form of cancer. At present there is little if any evidence to support this.
Diagnosing prostate cancer.
There are various different tests available including the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, the digital rectal exam and a biopsy.
The prostate specific antigen test detects the level of a prostate specific antigen in the bloodstream. High prostate specific antigen levels are not an indication of prostate cancer but are an indication of possible problems that ought to be investigated further.
The digital rectal examination requires a physician to wear a glove and insert a lubricated finger into the anus so that he can feel the prostate gland for signs of enlargement or irregularity.
In the case of a prostate biopsy the doctor will take several tissue samples from your prostate gland which will then be examined under a microscope for signs of cancerous cells.
