When you have reached the age of forty or more, it is time you seriously take in consideration the possibility of developing a prostate cancer. It’s no wonder why doctors believe that age is the first important cause for developing the prostate cancer. Cancer is a common disease, but the prostate cancer will affect only men since the prostate gland is found only in the male reproductive system and it is responsible for the making of the semen. Unfortunately, there are no early sign and symptoms to indicate the presence of a tumor in the gland so the screening tests are recommended to be done periodically. If the result of these tests is abnormal the prostate biopsy will help doctors make a correct diagnose.
Once the cancer starts spreading, very slowly indeed, doubling its size once every four years, the affected person will indicate symptoms such as: weak or frequent urine stream, burning while urinating, painful ejaculation, pain while urinating, back pains, stiffness, blood in urine or semen, ache or abdomen and bone pain, compression of the spine, leg weakness or incontinence. In most cases the signs that indicate the existence of a prostate cancer are ignored. Only when the pain becomes irritating and patients find no reasonable cause for it, they will seek for a doctor’s advice, which is, I may add, a bad thing. I see no reason why you should avoid the medical treatment if you are in need for it.

As I’ve mentioned before age is the main cause for developing a prostate cancer but there are some other important factors as well. Medical research studies have indicated that African-American males have a higher risk of being affected by this disease, while a diet based only on unhealthy foods such as animal fats, excessive drinking and smoking will only increase the risk mentioned earlier. The cancer could be inherited so make sure to know your family medical history: the cancer can also be inherited by males if the family has a history of breast cancer. One common sign is the pain while urinating. You may feel the need to urinate but nothing comes out or the stream doesn’t seem to stop. After you’re done you may feel the need to go once more, and that usually happens during the night. The cause for the pain while urinating doesn’t have to be cancer: the prostatitis indicates the infection of the prostate and the benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH indicates the enlargement of the gland, pressing on the urethra when urinating. These prostate disorders can also affect the sex life, especially when you find it difficult to get or keep an erection. If you notice blood in the semen or urine it is absolutely necessary to contact your doctor. It may be nothing at all but better know exactly what you are dealing with than leave the possible disease untreated. Intestinal problems can also indicate the existence of cancer; usually an enlarged prostate can cause chronic constipation and in some cases the constipation will contribute to that enlarged gland and put pressure on it.

If you feel a deep and dull ache on your lower back, upper thighs or hips, is another sign to seek immediately for a doctor’s advice. Advanced prostate cancer has the predilection of affecting bone structures first so be aware once you experience leg pain or pelvis pain. The dribbling or leaking urine is a condition known as urinary incontinence. People find it hard to talk about it but this is also a sign of prostate cancer. When the metastatic cancer affects the spinal cord, causing its compression, muscle weakness, urinary or fecal incontinence will be felt as results. The general idea is to search for a doctor’s counseling whenever you feel the need for it. The sooner a disease is detected, the sooner a correct treatment can be prescribed.