The prostate is an organ only existing in the male body - women do not have one. It is located deep within the under part of the body and surrounds the neck of the bladder and the first part of the urethra. It is fairly small being about three by four centimetres and is most easily got at from the back passage.
A few things could go wrong with the prostate and it is very likely that one of them will affect every man in later life to some degree or another. Some of the most common concerns are:
prostatitis which is the inflammation of the prostate due to bacterial disease
the benign enlargement of the prostate which is a common feature of the aging process, affecting numerous men over 50 years of age
prostate cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer in men
The growth of prostate cancer appears to be definitely linked to the existence of the male hormone androgen. Castration has a noticeable positive impact on the growth of prostate cancer.
The prostate is conical in shape, but has five definite lobes. Cancer nearly always develops in the rear-most lobe, whereas benign growths appear to prefer the other lobes.
All worries with the prostate have the impact of making urination difficult. This is why older men tend to go to the toilet frequently. Prostate cancer also developes faster than most other types of cancer.
Because of this, older men should have check ups for prostate cancer quite frequently. Not just does prostate cancer grow rapidly, but it also spreads rapidly. The medical term for this spreading is 'metastasis'.
If this kind of cancer is not diagnosed soon, it will spread quickly through the various internal organs, the lymph nodes and the blood. Death may happen soon after detection, unless it is caught at a very early stage.
Self diagnosis is almost impossible because it is a small internal organ buried between the penis and the anus. One of the first indications is a problem with urination, but by then it can already be too late to avoid metastasis.
If the cancer spreads to the bladder and urethra, urination will become painful and there might be blood in the urine too. If the cancer is advanced, urination might become impossible and kidney problems will follow soon. Kidney failure or kidney infection is a frequent side-effect of prostate cancer.
If the metastasis is well advanced, there could be back pain in the lower back region or in the hips. Shortage of breath would indicate a further development of the cancer to the lungs. A general feeling of weakness might be the next symptom.
if caught early enough, prostate cancer can be treated fairly successfully. Frequently a catheter is needed, but it could also mean dialysis if the kidneys have been severely affected.
Part of the prostate can be removed, but it is also possible to remove it completely, although not without consequences. Other treatments include hormones and chemotherapy.
Some individuals believe that prevention can be obtained by homeopathic medications or a healthy diet, but the jury is out on that one officially.
A few things could go wrong with the prostate and it is very likely that one of them will affect every man in later life to some degree or another. Some of the most common concerns are:
prostatitis which is the inflammation of the prostate due to bacterial disease
the benign enlargement of the prostate which is a common feature of the aging process, affecting numerous men over 50 years of age
prostate cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer in men
The growth of prostate cancer appears to be definitely linked to the existence of the male hormone androgen. Castration has a noticeable positive impact on the growth of prostate cancer.
The prostate is conical in shape, but has five definite lobes. Cancer nearly always develops in the rear-most lobe, whereas benign growths appear to prefer the other lobes.
All worries with the prostate have the impact of making urination difficult. This is why older men tend to go to the toilet frequently. Prostate cancer also developes faster than most other types of cancer.
Because of this, older men should have check ups for prostate cancer quite frequently. Not just does prostate cancer grow rapidly, but it also spreads rapidly. The medical term for this spreading is 'metastasis'.
If this kind of cancer is not diagnosed soon, it will spread quickly through the various internal organs, the lymph nodes and the blood. Death may happen soon after detection, unless it is caught at a very early stage.
Self diagnosis is almost impossible because it is a small internal organ buried between the penis and the anus. One of the first indications is a problem with urination, but by then it can already be too late to avoid metastasis.
If the cancer spreads to the bladder and urethra, urination will become painful and there might be blood in the urine too. If the cancer is advanced, urination might become impossible and kidney problems will follow soon. Kidney failure or kidney infection is a frequent side-effect of prostate cancer.
If the metastasis is well advanced, there could be back pain in the lower back region or in the hips. Shortage of breath would indicate a further development of the cancer to the lungs. A general feeling of weakness might be the next symptom.
if caught early enough, prostate cancer can be treated fairly successfully. Frequently a catheter is needed, but it could also mean dialysis if the kidneys have been severely affected.
Part of the prostate can be removed, but it is also possible to remove it completely, although not without consequences. Other treatments include hormones and chemotherapy.
Some individuals believe that prevention can be obtained by homeopathic medications or a healthy diet, but the jury is out on that one officially.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is now involved with the stages of ovarian cancer. If you want to know more go to Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer