The Prostate:
Benign growths & malignant growths and Important Health Trick to prevent prostatic Growth.
The male reproductive system consists of the prostate and seminal vesicles, among other things. An average-sized male prostate weighs only one ounce. There are only two seminal vesicles in total. On either side of the prostate, there are these glands. The seminal vesicles have been compared as rabbit ears because of their position on the prostate, according to some people. Urinary bladder is located above the prostate, which is in front of the rectus abdominis muscle. The urethra is encircled by the prostate. Urine travels from the bladder through the urethra to the penis, where it is excreted. Men with an enlarged prostate often have trouble urinating because of this. It has the potential to interfere with the bladder’s ability to empty its contents.
Semen are bathed in fluid produced by the prostate and seminal vesicles. The testicles produce sperm, which is then transported to the urethra during ejaculation. Prostate and seminal vesicles fluid enter the urethra simultaneously. The ejaculate is made up of a mixture of sperm and fluid from the prostate and seminal vesicles, and it exits the penis via the urethra.
Benign Growth (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-BPH):
Prostate size tends to increase in men as they get older. Urethral narrowing can result, which in turn reduces urine output. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a different condition from prostate cancer and is referred to as such. Other changes to the prostate in men that aren’t cancer can occur as well.
It is rarely life-threatening
It Stays away from their surrounding tissues.
If removed, it will not spread to other parts of the body, however, it will slowly grow back.
Malignant Growth (Prostate Cancer):
In this case the risk to one’s life is possible.
It is Transplantable to other organs and tissues in the area (such as the bladder or rectum)
It is capable of spreading to various parts of the body (like to lymph nodes or bone)
They can usually be easily removed, but sometimes they come back. Cells of a prostate tumour can spread to other parts of the body if they break free. They can spread throughout the body via blood vessels or lymph nodes. Cancer cells that have spread to other tissues can multiply and form tumours, wreaking havoc where they settle.
In cases where prostate cancer has spread from its original site to another part of the body, the new tumour will have the same type of abnormal cells and be known by the same name as the primary tumour. In the case of prostate cancer spreading to the bones, the cancer cells found in the bones are actually those of the patient’s original tumour. Instead of bone cancer, the disease is called metastatic prostate cancer. The reason for this being that it’s referred to as bone prostate cancer.
How Common Is Prostate Cancer and Who Is at Risk?
Prostate cancer affects all men, but African-American men are disproportionately affected.
Prostate cancer is a disease that can strike any man. Prostate cancer affects about 13 men in the United States out of every 100, and it kills about 2 to 3 of those men.
The age of the patient is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Prostate cancer is more likely to strike a man as he gets older.
Prostate cancer is more common in some men than others. If you’re African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer, your risk of getting or dying from prostate cancer is higher.
Men of African Descent
Compared to other men, have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
The risk of dying from prostate cancer is more than twice as high for black men.
Prostate cancer is more common in younger men, who are also more likely to have an advanced disease when it is discovered, as well as a more severe form of the disease compared to other men.
Personal History of the Members of the Family (Genetic Risk Factors)
Prostate cancer risk may be increased for some men due to genetics. It’s possible that inherited genetic changes increase your risk of developing a certain type of prostate cancer.
What Are the Prostate Cancer Symptoms?
If you notice any symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible. They can be caused by a variety of different medical conditions aside from prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer symptoms vary from person to person. Some men never show any signs or symptoms of prostate cancer.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor right away:
Starting to urinate is difficult.
Weak or irregular urination.
Urination on a regular basis, particularly at night.
Inability to completely empty the bladder.
A burning or stabbing sensation while urinating.
Urine or sperm with blood.
Back, hip, or pelvic pain that won’t leave you alone.
Ejaculation is excruciatingly painful.
Prostate Cancer Screening: What Is It?
Prostate cancer screening with a PSA test is done on some men. Consult your physician, learn about the process, and make a decision about whether a PSA test is right for you.
The term “cancer screening” refers to the process of finding cancer before any symptoms appear. Prostate cancer screening aims to identify cancers that, if left untreated, have a high risk of spreading, and to do so early enough to treat them.
Ask your doctor about your personal risk factors if you are thinking about getting screened. Find out about the benefits and harms of screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Screening for prostate cancer does not have a standard test. Below are descriptions of two common prostate cancer screening tests.
Blood Test for PSA, or Prostate Specific Antigen
Detecting the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the body is done through a blood test. The prostate produces PSA, which is a hormone. Prostate cancer patients may have higher blood levels of PSA. Other conditions that affect the prostate can cause an elevated PSA level.
A prostate problem is more likely to exist if the PSA level in the blood is elevated. However, a wide range of things, including your age and race, can have an impact on your PSA levels. PSA production varies among prostate glands.
Certain medical procedures can also affect PSA levels like a few prescription drugs, Prostate hypertrophy and an infection of the prostate.
PSA levels can be affected by a wide range of things, so only your doctor can interpret your results. It’s possible that your doctor will suggest a biopsy if the PSA results are abnormal.
A digital rectal examination (DRE).
To check for abnormalities like prostate cancer, a doctor uses a gloved, lubricated finger inside a man’s rectum. This procedure is known as a digital rectal examination (DRE). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend DRE as a screening test due to a lack of evidence.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Prostate cancer can be diagnosed through a procedure known as a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of prostate tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to determine whether or not it contains cancerous cells.
Under a microscope, a Gleason score can be calculated based on the findings of the biopsy. The score indicates the likelihood of cancer spreading if it exists. There are ten possible outcomes. To put it another way, a lower score indicates a reduced risk of cancer spread.
While a biopsy is the primary diagnostic tool for detecting prostate cancer, a doctor may also use other instruments to ensure the biopsy is performed in the correct location. Transrectal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two examples of imaging techniques that doctors can use to guide a biopsy. No radiation is used in MRI scans.
Staging
A number of additional tests are performed if prostate cancer is found to see if it has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body or not. Staging is the term used to describe this procedure. The stage of prostate cancer is determined by whether or not the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. How far along the disease has progressed tells your doctor what type of treatment you’ll need to receive.
Health Advice for Men with Prostate Cancer
If detected early, prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and not cause any harm to the men who have it if caught in time.
Choosing not to get screened is completely up to you. You are under no obligation to proceed if you choose to be screened. With each step, you should discuss it with your physician.
The vast majority of prostate cancers detected through screening are slow-growing and non-fatal. It’s possible that some men have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer, in which case early detection is critical.
Prostate cancer is more likely to strike older men, African-American men, and men with a family history of the disease. Talk to your doctor about screening if you’re worried about your increased risk of prostate cancer.
Radiation, Prostate removal surgery and monitoring and follow-up visits are possible treatments for prostate cancer.
If you have had radiation or surgery, you may experience side effects like impotence, urinary incontinence and issues with your rectum.
Important Health Trick to Prevent Prostatic Growth
The Indo Pak Hakeem’s tradition (Physicians of old ages of subcontinent) have been to advise the male of above 45 to urinate immediately after lunch or dinner. Although it has no support from scientific evidence but probably the PH of urine after meal has some beneficial effect on growth of prostate.
References
Prostate Cancer Health Tips | CDC. (2020, August 18). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/prostate-cancer-health-tip-sheet.htm.