|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Prostate Awareness Month
According to a survey of men aged 45 and above conducted by The Prostate Cancer Charity, 70% of them knew nothing about their prostate or the symptoms of prostate cancer.
The awareness month aims to educate men about this walnut sized gland and allow them to make better choices about testing and treatment. In the UK prostate cancer is the most common male cancer and 35,000 men are diagnosed every year.
The message is “Know Your Prostate”.
Where is it?
The prostate gland is found only in men. It is the size and shape of a walnut but does get larger with age and is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen).
What does it do?
It produces some of the fluid in semen and is crucial to a man’s sex life. The prostate fluid nourishes and protects sperm during intercourse and forms the bulk of ejaculate volume.
|
|
What Changes Should I Look Out For?
Some men with prostate cancer may have no symptoms. If you have any problems with your water works it might be a sign of a prostate problem.
The main types of prostate problems are:
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. This is the most common prostate problem.
Prostatitis – inflammation and infection of the prostate
Prostate Cancer
They all have similar symptoms which may include:
A weak or reduced flow of urine
Needing to pass urine more often, especially at night
Feeling your bladder has not emptied properly
Difficulty starting to pass urine
Dribbling urine
Needing to rush to the toilet – you may leak urine before you get there
Less common symptoms include:
Pain when you pass urine
Pain when ejaculating
Pain in the testicles
Lower back pain, hip or pelvic pain
Difficulty getting and keeping an erection
If you are suffering from any of these do not accept uncomfortable symptoms as normal. See your GP to find out what is causing the problem.
What Are The Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer?
Age increases risk, 85% of cancer cases are diagnosed in men over 60
Family History, you are 2½ times more likely to develop prostate cancer if your father or brother has had it.
Ethnicity, African Caribbean Men are 3 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men but it is less common in men of Asian descent.
Diet, no one knows how to prevent prostate cancer but it is thought reducing your intake of animal fat and eating more fruit and vegetables may reduce your risk of prostate cancer developing and spreading.
|
|
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate Cancer experts agree that there is no reliable method for diagnosing the disease. The standard method for assessing your risk of developing prostate cancer is the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test but experts disagree on its usefulness.
PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. It can be measured by a simple blood test. It is normal to have a small amount of PSA in the blood stream.
What Affects PSA Levels?
Age - PSA rises with age on a continuous scale, so a man of 70 will have a higher PSA level than a man of 50
Infection
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - if the prostate is larger than normal it may produce more PSA
Prostate Cancer
Vigorous Exercise, there is some debate as to whether exercise such as cycling affects the PSA level. You may be asked to avoid vigorous exercise 48 hours before the test.
Ejaculation - ejaculation in the 48 hours before the PSA test may affect the result.
Digital Rectal Examination - this test used to help diagnose prostate problems. If possible PSA should be done before digital rectal examination.
Biopsy - if you have had a prostate biopsy in the 6 weeks before a PSA test this could affect the result.
One risk of the PSA test is that you may be diagnosed with prostate cancer but the cancer may be slow growing and would never have caused any problems. The test could save your life but also it could cause you unnecessary worry.
Deciding whether to have the test is a personal choice based on your symptoms/risk factors and should be discussed with your G.P. or specialist.
There is currently no prostate screening programme on the NHS however the government is committed to introducing one if and when an accurate diagnosis test becomes available. However, if you are a man over 50 or a younger man with an increased risk of prostate cancer you are entitled to have a PSA Test if you wish.
|
|
|
Ark Occupational Health will be able to conduct a prostate screening service for men over 40 as part of the ’Key Person’ and ’Executive’ Medical. For more information on the Executive Medical please visit the Executive Medical page.
|
|
|
|
|
