About Cancer

Only men have a prostate, and it's a small gland located under the bladder. It's shaped something like a doughnut, so that it can fit around the urethra. This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder. Basically, the prostate's job is to produce fluid, which is mixed with sperm when the man ejaculates.

Recently, prostate cancer has received the dubious honor of being the most common male cancer in western society. Prostate cancer is usually a very slow growing form of tumor, and often don't require treatment. This is different to other forms of cancer that can grow quickly and spread to other areas, such as the bones, causing severe pain.

One of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer is an inability to urinate, or even just some difficulty in passing urine. This is often more noticeable at night. The flow of urine may also be weak or interrupted, and there may perhaps be traces of blood present. Other sufferers also experience some discomfort or pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs.

While these symptoms often signify the presence of prostate cancer, they can also be cause by other conditions as well, many of which are much less serious. Still, if you notice any of these symptoms developing, it's always wise to consult your doctor for further diagnosis.

Research has yet to determine what causes prostate cancer, although a small proportion of cases have been directly attributed to high-level radiation exposure. Genetics do appear to play a part, with the disease often present in more than one male of the family over a number of generations. So if you have a family history of prostate cancer, regular checks become more important. It's unusual for men to develop prostate cancer under the age of 50, but after that the risk increases dramatically, with nearly half of prostate cancer cases occurring in men 75 years and older.

Although not proven completely, there is some data that suggests a high fat diet increase the risk of prostate cancer, while eating a diet high in Vitamin E, tomatoes and cruciform vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts) can help to lower the risk. Even if better eating patterns don't directly result in a reduced risk of prostate cancer, it's still better for your general health, so is a good thing to do anyway

One popular misconception is that having a vasectomy increases the risk of prostate cancer, but at this stage, all the research suggests that it makes no difference. There's no known way of preventing prostate cancer, although some studies have indicated that taking 200 micrograms of selenium every day may reduce your risk of developing the cancer.

Like many cancers, the key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. The more advanced the cancer, the harder it is to cure. All men over the age of 50 need to be able to recognize the symptoms of prostate cancer, and seek medical advice if any symptoms are noticed. A number of different tests are used to diagnose prostate cancer, including:

- Rectal Examination - the size of the prostate gland is examined with a gloved finger inserted into the rectum

- Ultrasound - the size of the prostate is determined using a small probe inserted into the rectum

- PSA Blood Test - prostate cancer generally results in a marked increase in the level of Prostate Specific Antigen

- Biopsy - a tissue sample is taken from the prostate using a needle inserted via the rectum

- X-ray - an x-ray can determine if there is cancer present elsewhere, such as in the bones