What Can Go Wrong with the Prostate Gland? Find Out Here

[N'Zinga Shani]

October is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

You Have Nothing to Lose By Learning About the Prostate Gland; it is a little walnut size  organ that can cause a lot of grief; it also has a pretty important role in male reproduction.

Normal Anatomy of the Male Prostate Gland

The normal prostate is a small, squishy gland about the size of a walnut. It sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra—the narrow tube that runs the length of the penis and carries both urine and semen out of the body—runs directly through the prostate. The rectum, or lower end of the bowel, sits just behind the prostate and the bladder. See images of normal-sized and enlarged gland: Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Pictures Slideshow - MedicineNet

www.medicinenet.com › .

The prostate is not essential for life, but it’s important for reproduction. It seems to supply substances that facilitate fertilization and sperm transit and survival. Enzymes like PSA are actually used to loosen up semen to help sperm reach the egg during intercourse. (Sperm is not made in the prostate, but rather the testes.)

Information provided in English and Spanish (Inglés | Español)

What Can Go Wrong with the Prostate?  Find out here.  Also learn about:

•        Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
•        Prostatitis
•       What is Prostate Cancer?

 Unfortunately, most men are going to need to know about the prostate sometime, because this little gland is the source of three of the major men's health problems:

• Prostate cancer, the most common major cancer in men
• Benign enlargement of the prostate ( BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia), one of the most common benign tumors in men and a source of symptoms for most men as they age
• Prostatitis, painful inflammation of the prostate, the most common cause of urinary tract infections in men

Worse, because there’s no “statute of limitations” on prostate problems, some men are unlucky enough to endure more than one of these disorders. For example, having BPH or prostatitis doesn’t mean a man won’t have further difficulty—either a return of symptoms or a new problem entirely, such as prostate cancer.

When it comes to making the diagnosis of prostate cancer and planning treatment, the other prostate disorders must be considered, too. So it’s important that men know about all three problems—what they are, how they are treated, and their telltale symptoms.

Fortunately, effective treatment and relief of symptoms is available for all three prostate disorders. Even prostate cancer, when caught early, is treatable—generally without causing loss of urinary control or sexual function. In fact, many prostate cancers may not need to be immediately treated and can be safety followed under a program of active surveillance.

Race: African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men and are nearly 2.5 times as likely to die from the disease. Conversely, Asian men who live in Asia have the lowest risk.

Family history/genetics: A man with a father or brother who developed prostate cancer is twice as likely to develop the disease. This risk is further increased if the cancer was diagnosed in family members at a younger age (less than 55 years of age) or if it affected three or more family members.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms:

Not everyone experiences symptoms of prostate cancer. Many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a doctor during a routine check-up.

Some men, however, will experience changes in urinary or sexual function that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. These symptoms include:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Painful or burning urination
• Difficulty in having an erection
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in urine or semen
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

You should consult with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms above.

Because these symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders, such as BPH or prostatitis, men will undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause.

According to the National Cancer Institute below are the: "Estimated new cases and deaths from prostate cancer in the United States in 2014:"

•  New cases: 233,000

•  Deaths: 29,480

• Prostate Cancer - National Cancer Institute  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate

OneWorld encourages men to be proactive; know your family history; get appropriate screening; talk to your urologist; do not ignore symptoms.  Exercise; take care of yourself and enjoy a healthy life.  Prevention is ALWAYS more effective than trying to cure an illness.  We at OneWorld wish you all good health.

Watch OneWorld's community education forum here: http://youtu.be/2SfVrGiqqMg 

Get more information here:  http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5813303/k.CDC2/What_Can_Go...

An Excellent 8:35 mins Prostate Education Video - http://youtu.be/FbIq19M_3lM

OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc is a small group of community volunteers dedicated to bringing the Greater New Haven community reliable information on Health Literacy, Education and Civic Engagement. 

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