How Do I Know If I Have Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is whenever cancer forms in the prostate gland. It is the second-leading cause of cancer fatalities for men in the United States. About 1 in 7 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifespan. This year, more than 160,000 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. A lot of those are going to be Saint Louis prostate cancer patients.

Growths in the prostate may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Benign growths (such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH):

• Are rarely a risk to life.
• Do not invade the tissues around them.
• Do not spread to other portions of the body.
• Can be removed and may grow back very slowly (but usually don't grow back).

Malignant growths (prostate cancer):

• May sometimes be a danger to life
• Can infect nearby organs and tissues (like the bladder or rectum)
• Can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body (such as lymph nodes or bone)
• Commonly may be removed but sometimes grow back

Prostate cancer cells can spread by breaking away from a prostate tumor. They can travel throughout blood vessels or lymph nodes to reach other parts of the body. After spreading, cancer cells might connect to other tissues and flourish to form new tumors, creating damage where they land. That is why it is very important to talk to a Saint Louis prostate cancer treatment specialist such as those at Metropolitan Urological Specialists if you have or think you might have prostate cancer.

When prostate cancer spreads from its original place to another portion of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the exact same name as the primary (original) tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, the cancerous cells within the bones are actually prostate cancer cells. The disease is metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer. Because of that, it's treated as prostate cancer in bone.

The Prostate

The prostate and seminal vesicles are part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is approximately the size of a walnut and weighs approximately one ounce. The seminal vesicles are two much smaller paired glands. These glands are attached to each side of the prostate. The prostate is below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It goes all the way around the urethra. The urethra is a tube which carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.

The principal job of the prostate and seminal vesicles is to make fluid for semen. During ejaculation, sperm is produced within the testicles, and then relocates to the urethra. At the same time, fluid from the prostate and the seminal vesicles also moves into the urethra. This mix -semen - goes through the urethra and out of the penis as ejaculate.

When cancer appears, it is discovered in the prostate gland and virtually never within the seminal vesicles.

Throughout its early stages, prostate cancer normally has no symptoms. Whenever symptoms do occur, they may be like those of an enlarged prostate or BPH. Prostate cancer may also trigger symptoms unrelated to BPH. If you have urinary problems, talk with your healthcare provider about them.

Symptoms of prostate cancer could be:

• Dull pain in the lower pelvic area
• Frequent urinating
• Trouble urinating, pain, burning, or weakened urine flow.
• Blood in the urine (Hematuria)
• Uncomfortable ejaculation
• Pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Bone pain

If you see these symptoms, perhaps it is time for you to seek the advice of a prostate cancer professional. Metropolitan Urological Specialists has a team of prostate cancer experts who know how to identify the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer and develop the most ideal course of treatment. They specialize in meeting the urological health needs of St Louis, Creve Coeur, Florissant, Kirkwood, Crestwood, Chesterfield, and Washington, MO.

Info Credit: UrologyHealth.org