Prostate Health

The prostate gland sits below the bladder, in front of the rectum and the urethra runs through the center of the prostate gland.

Men at risk include those 55 years and older, of African descent, have a family history of prostate cancer, are obese and smoke. Common prostate problems include Prostatitis, Enlarged Prostate and Prostate cancer.

Prostatitis affect men under 50. The prostate gland becomes inflamed usually a result of bacterial infection. Symptoms include discomfort, pain, frequent urination, cloudy urine and fever. Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics.

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged prostate affects men older men over 50 years old. The prostate becomes enlarged and squeezes the urethra and blocks the flow of urine and semen. Symptoms include frequent urination, urine flow that stops and starts, feeling as if you did not get all the urine out. BPH can cause complications such as sudden inability to urinate and needing a catheter inserted into your bladder to remove urine, urinary tract infections caused by inability to empty your bladder. The infection could reach the kidneys. BPH can be treated with medications or surgery.

Prostate Cancer

There are usually has no symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms occur when cancer has advanced. Symptoms include frequent and urgent need to urinates especially at night, weak urine flow or urine flow or flow that starts and stops, painful urination or ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, blood in semen or urine, bowel incontinence, lower back pain, chest and hip pain.

Doctors perform digital exams and use the results of blood tests and biopsies to diagnose prostate cancer. A doctor will feel the prostate gland through the rectum for bumps and hard areas and may order a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Elevated PSA levels could be the result of prostatitis, BPH or cancer. The doctor will other more tests to determine the reason for elevated PSA. A biopsy is a procedure where a needle is used to remove tissue samples from the prostate and tested for cancer cells. Where an MRI guided biopsy is performed, the MRI provides images of the prostate. The biopsy results will show the stage of the cancer and whether it is slow growing or aggressive.

Treatment varies depending on the stage of the cancer and the patient's preference. Treatment approach can be wait and see, active surveillance which includes tests, biopsies and scans, radiation therapy, surgery to remove the prostate gland, freezing or heating to kill cancer cells, hormone therapy to block testosterone which cancer cells need in order to grow, chemotherapy to kill cancer cells, Immunotherapy which uses the immune system to fight cancer.

Prostate cancer cannot be prevented. Early detection is key. Your doctor can advise on screenings and how often you should be screened.