How to Tell If You Are at Great Risk of Getting Prostate Cancer


by Joseph Ducat - Date: 2007-02-09 - Word Count: 343 Share This!

Prostate cancer is a serious health concern. Are you aware that it is the second leading cause of death by cancer among men? Prostate cancer is a disease that afflicts the prostate gland, which is a part of the male reproductive system. This gland, a small walnut-sized bundle of tissue in the rectal area, is involved in sexual function, and is responsible for orgasm in men. It tends to become more susceptible to disease after a man reaches his late forties, and many men from the ages of 45 to 50 are likely to develop some prostate enlargement, possibly benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

As men go into their fifties, the risk of developing prostate cancer becomes more acute. Most men who are found to have prostate cancer get their diagnosis at the age of 70, on average. A man's ethnic background has some bearing on his risk of getting the disease. Prostate cancer is more likely to affect males of African descent than Caucasians or Hispanics. It is less likely to affect males of Asian, Native American, or Aboriginal descent. Family medical background also contributes to a man's level of risk. Having a family member with prostate cancer doubles one's risk of getting prostate cancer.

If you think you are at high risk for developing prostate cancer, you should have regular diagnostic checkups, at least once in a year. Watching and waiting for symptoms is usually not effective in the case of prostate cancer, since symptoms usually do not appear. However, you should definitely have yourself checked by a doctor if you should experience any of these problems: needing to urinate frequently, often at night; having difficulty starting urination or maintaining a steady flow of urine; feeling a burning sensation or pain when urinating; experiencing pain in ejaculation; having difficulty in getting an erection; finding blood in the urine or semen. Even if you have one or more of these symptoms, they may not be indicative of early-stage prostate cancer, but they may indicate other medical problems, so it is wise to get medical consultation.


Related Tags: cancer, pain, symptoms, disease, risks, prostate, sexual dysfunction, diagnosis, indications, early stages

Do yourself a favor, learn the various ways of preventing prostate cancer. Check out my tips and articles at http://prostatehealthcare.info

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