Men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostrate cancer.It is important to understand the risk factors for the disease so that you can make an assessment of your likelihood of having it.If you have symptoms that could be indicative of cancer, you should report them to your doctor.If you don't have any symptoms but are at risk for the disease, you should understand the pros and cons of screening tests so you can decide whether or not you want to go.
Step 1: Think about your age.
There is a strong correlation between your age and your risk of cancer.Six in ten cases of prostrate cancer are in men over the age of 65, and you are unlikely to get it before 40.Many men outlive their prostrate cancer even if they are diagnosed later in life.Many forms of prostrate cancer do not need treatment, even if you are diagnosed with the disease.They may not cause you serious problems, but they may never move beyond the prostate.Some prostrate cancers are more severe and can spread throughout the body.
Step 2: Understand the medical history of your family.
If you have a family history of prostate cancer, your risk of developing it in your lifetime will increase.From generation to generation, there appears to be a genetic tendency.Your risk of having this tendency is related to the number of men in your family who have had cancer.If you have a family history of breast cancer, this may increase your chances of developing it as a man.There are some studies that link these two diseases.
Step 3: Certain races are at higher risk for cancer.
African Americans have been shown to have a higher risk of developing the disease.People of Asian descent have a lower incidence of the disease.
Step 4: If you are having problems with urinating, tell your doctor.
Problems with urination is one of the telltale signs that you are at higher risk for a possible prostate cancer.If you have been having dribbling of urine, incomplete emptying of your bladder, or waking several times a night to go to the bathroom, please let your doctor know.These may be signs of an enlarged urethra.BPH is the most common cause of an enlarged prostrate.In some cases, urinary symptoms can be caused by the cancer.You should see your doctor to determine the underlying cause and to check for the presence of the cancer.
Step 5: Take a picture of your semen.
If you have blood in your semen, it's a sign that you may have cancer.It's important to tell your doctor about it.Your doctor will probably tell you to get tests to look into whether or not the root cause of the disease is prostate cancer.
Step 6: Inform your doctor if you are having pain in your hips, spine, or Pelvic area.
There is a possibility that you have a tumor of the prostrate.If you have pain in your hip bones or spine, it may be due to cancer.Your bones are the most common place where the cancer spreads.Inform your doctor if you are having pain in either area.
Step 7: Discuss the pros and cons of screening with your physician
Right now, the choice of whether or not to screen for prostrate cancer is a highly controversial one.It has not been shown that screening for prostate cancer reduces deaths from the disease.The benefits of mammograms are questioned by the medical community.If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer early, you don't know much about how the cancer will progress or affect your quality of life.It can be difficult to make a decision about treatment.It is possible that surgery may not prevent deaths and that it may have adverse effects.The choice of whether or not to move forward with screening tests for prostrate cancer is usually discussed between the man and his doctor.Careful thought and decision making is required in each person's situation.
Step 8: Your doctor can perform a DRE.
When a man has no symptoms, a digital rectal exam has limited value, but it can be essential when investigating symptoms such as difficulty urinating or blood in semen.This is a short procedure in which your doctor inserts a gloved finger through your anus and up your rectum.Your doctor will look at the shape of your urethra to see if there are any anomalies.The DRE exam takes a few minutes to complete.It can be done in the office setting.
Step 9: If you have symptoms, get a PSA test.
If your blood test shows an elevated PSA, it may be an indication of cancer.The test is not accurate enough to be used as a diagnostic tool.An elevated PSA can also be a symptom of a disease.It's not specific to the disease.
Step 10: Receive an exam.
If your clinical signs and symptoms are suggestive of a possible cancer, your doctor will likely recommend that you have a PSA or DRE.A probe will be inserted into your rectum to give you the clearest view of your prostratetum.If a cancer is present, a mass will be able to be seen.
Step 11: If you want to have a PSA test, opt for it.
The doctor will use a needle to take small samples of the mass from the patient if it shows up on the test.The appearance of suspicious tissue under a microscope can be used to confirm whether or not it is cancer.