Prostate Cancer

This occurs when normal semen secreting cells in the prostate gland transform into cancer cells. Once established the cancer cells may spread via blood and lymphatic system to the bladder, rectum, bones, and lymph nodes or beyond.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.

Risk factors include being of the African race, Men > 45 years, having a First-degree relative family history, regular consumption of High-fat diet which includes red meat and dairy product.

Diagnosis is often done via an abnormal digital rectal exam but most cases are asymptomatic. Symptoms when present includes new onset erectile dysfunction, painful urination, difficulty passing out urine, bloody urine and bloody sperm in the ejaculate.In advanced cases patients may present with bone fracture, bone pain and spinal cord compression causing weak or/and painful legs, fecal incontinence, and loss of sensations in legs.

Any of these latter symptoms may be the initial presentation especially for people who do not get regular medical checks

Diagnosis is often through an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) although not accurate all suspicious prostate glands are biopsied

A diagnosis could also start from having an elevated PSA ( blood test to check for prostate-specific antigen) PSA is elevated in 65% of prostate cancers.

I advise men over 40 years to check their PSA levels yearly.

It is not necessary for men over 75 years or in some cases if life expectancy is less than 10 years.

It is, however, important to note that PSA is also elevated in benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostatitis (prostate infection), and just after having sex or masturbating ( so this is not a good time to give a blood sample for PSA check).

In a nutshell, a high PSA doesn’t necessarily translate to Prostate cancer all the time

Another thing of note is that even if the PSA is low The 2004 National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend that prostate biopsy be considered in men with a serum PSA as low as 2.6 ng/mL, if the rate of rising in the serum PSA (PSA velocity) is = 0.75 ng/mL per year.

In summary, be proactive about your health and chat with your doctor!