Prostate Cancer: Why Men Should Pay Attention When They Pee

The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2008 there will be 186,000+ new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed, and 28,000+ prostate cancer deaths among those diagnosed, in the United States.  Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among men, surpassed only by skin cancer in sheer numbers; for men over the age of 75 prostate cancer is #1.

Early symptoms of prostate cancer—a small gland that surrounds the urethra just above the penis—involve changes in urination habits and erectile function.  Symptoms may include:

•    Changes in urination: can’t urinate; difficulty urinating; or increased frequency
•    Erectile dysfunction
•    Pain in the scrotum or lower back

Those symptoms can also be symptomatic of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, more commonly known as an enlarged prostate; men frequently attribute their symptoms to aging and do not consult a physician.  Men, however, should develop the heightened sense of awareness that women have developed about breast cancer: early treatment has increased the survival rates for both types of cancers when detected early.

Physicians use the digital rectal exam to determine changes in size or consistency in the prostate: both BPH and cancer can cause the prostate to become enlarged and more rigid.  The NCI and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have identified specific risk factors for men regarding prostate cancer: men having two or more of these risk factors present should have a rectal exam annually:

•    Male over the age of 45
•    A family history of prostate cancer
•    An African-American male
•    A diet high in animal fats and meat

Have your personal physician, or urologist, conduct the exam because the need for comparison, i.e., how the prostate feels from one exam to the next, is very important.