Do I Have Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that affects the prostate gland which is, in part, responsible for producing semen. Generally, cancer develops when atypical cells begin to divide and multiply until they begin to invade and infect tissues and organs. For men, this is one of the most common and serious forms of cancer that they can develop. Therefore, it is extremely important for men to learn as much about this illness as possible in order to reduce their risk of developing tumors in their prostate. 

One of the biggest problems with detecting prostate cancer is the fact that there are not many sign or symptoms in the early stages of the illness. Instead, symptoms become much more prevalent once it has become more advanced. Some of the symptoms that may present itself during tan advanced stage include problems with producing a steady urine flow, blood in the semen or urine, swelling or pain in the legs, pelvic area, and bones. Significant erectile dysfunction during sex can also be a sign of problems with the prostate as can an increase in hernias. Because there are such few symptoms in the early stages, it is important for men to schedule prostate cancer screenings with a medical professional who is experienced in urology.

One of the testing methods is known as a Digital Rectal Exam which is where a doctor manually checks the prostate for anything unusual in terms of size, shape, and texture. Hyperplasia or an enlargement of the prostate can occur due to the growth of cancer cells. This initial test helps a doctor to determine whether or not further testing is needed. An additional test that may be performed is known as Prostate-specific antigen test which is where a blood sample is taken and the level of the PSA is measured as PSA is a normal hormonal chemical that is secreted by the prostate gland. If the amount is too low or too high in comparison to what the average amount is considered to be, then this could be a sign of prostate cancer.

In order to gain a complete diagnosis, doctors will typically perform an ultrasound or take a sample of the prostate tissue which is called a biopsy. This biopsy tells doctors whether or not cancer cells are present and the amount of cancer cells present is given a particular score known as a Gleason score. A low score means that cancer cells are not prevalent whereas a high score means that there are a lot of cancer cells. For some people, a benign prostatic may be the outcome of tests and screenings; however, other people may find that their condition is life threatening and they will need to undergo cancer treatment. One possible treatment is a radical prostatectomy which is where the prostate and the surrounding tumor is removed in order to prevent the cancer from spreading.