What's the state of your prostate?

Fact 1.

Only men have a prostate gland. The prostate is a small gland that sits below the bladder near the rectum. It surrounds the urethra (the passage in the penis through which urine and semen pass). The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system, and produces most of the fluid that makes up semen.

The prostate is often described as ranging from the size of a walnut to a small mandarin and it is normal for it to grow as men age. Sometimes this can cause problems, such as difficulty urinating. These problems are common in older men and not always symptoms or signs of cancer.

Fact 2. 

Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop in the prostate. These abnormal cells can continue to multiply in an uncontrolled way and sometimes spread outside the prostate into nearby or distant parts of the body.

In 2014, there were 18,291 new cases diagnosed in Australia.(1) It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men worldwide.

Fact 3.

Prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer and has few early symptoms. Symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• Feeling the frequent or sudden need to urinate, especially at night
• Finding it difficult to urinate (for example, trouble starting or not being able to urinate when the feeling is there)
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Discomfort when urinating
• Finding blood in urine or semen
• Painful ejaculation
• Difficulty in having an erection
• Pain in the lower back, upper thighs or hips. (2)

It's best to get checked out by a GP if you experience any of these symptoms. As with everything in life, better safe than sorry.

Fact 4.

Experiencing prostate issues doesn't mean that you necessarily have cancer. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate but isn’t cancerous. It can present with similar symptoms as prostate cancer. Speak with your GP to find out more.

Fact 5.

When detected early, prostate cancer survival rates are better than 98%. Find it late, and those survival rates drop below 26%. (3)

As mentioned previously, prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer. The majority of men with low grade prostate cancer live for many years without symptoms and without it spreading and becoming life-threatening. However, high grade disease spreads quickly and can be fatal. 

Fact 6.

Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, family history, ethnicity, geography and genetics.

A man’s chances of developing prostate cancer increases with age – by age 85, the likelihood is around one in seven. Family history of prostate cancer, especially if the family member was diagnosed at a young age, may increase your chances. Ethnicity, geography and genetics can also be risk factors.

If you’re at higher risk, your doctor will keep a close eye on your prostate health.

Fact 7.

Once you turn 50, it's time to get tested. If you're of African or Caribbean descent, or you have a family history of prostate cancer, get tested at age 45. (3)

If you present with symptoms, your GP will conduct a short rectal examination and a prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) blood test, to see whether you have raised levels of prostate hormones. This can be a
sign of problems, including BPH and cancer.

Fact 8.

Staying in a healthy weight range may help protect you from prostate cancer, so regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are important. Eating fish can help protect against prostate cancer. It also seems that the pigment lycopene, which you’ll find in tomatoes, may be especially important for protection. Your body can absorb lycopene more effectively if the tomatoes are cooked – so pass the pasta sauce!

Fact 9.

There is some evidence to suggest that eating a lot of processed meat, or food that is high in fat, can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. These and other fast/takeaway foods can contain trans fats – fats that have been artificially hardened by food manufacturers and have a lot of negative effects on your body. Trans fats trigger inflammation and insulin resistance, both of which play a role in prostate cancer.

Fact 10.

Your GP is one of your best sources of information about prostate cancer. Make an appointment to see them if you have any questions or concerns.

 

(1) Cancer Council. Prostate cancer. https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/prostate-cancer.html 

(2) Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. What you need to know about prostate cancer. http://www.prostate.org.au/awareness/general-information/what-you-need-to-know-about-prostate-cancer/

(3) The Movember Foundation. Prostate Cancer. https://au.movember.com/mens-health/prostate-cancer 

 

This wellbeing message is brought to you by RT Health – the health insurer for transport and energy people. The health information provided here is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.