One of the best ways is taking a genetic testing for hereditary cancer. This will let you know if the cancer you have is hereditary or environmental, and if you have children this information is invaluable as your genes are passed down to them: they could have received the mutated gene that caused the cancer for you and will in turn have a much higher chance of cancer developing for them A Common gene mutation is in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes which causes Breast Cancer in women and Prostate Cancer in men[4] X Trustworthy Source National Cancer Institute An agency in the National Institutes of Health focused on cancer research and patient support Go to source as one example of a very common gene mutation. The test is commonly known as a CGx and is a simple cheek swab
Wanting to go to the bathroom but no urine comes out. The mass from the prostate may have blocked off the urethra or bladder opening to the urethra. If you feel you have to go but nothing comes out the penis or very small dribbling of urine, you may have a more severe blockage of the urethra/bladder. Having the urge to urinate more at night or waking up with the feeling. Since the mass obstructs urine outlet, your bladder may not empty entirely during the day. So when you are sleeping the bladder it fills up faster due to the urine previously there. [5] X Research source You may also get the sense you want to urinate but you cannot due to the mass blocking the urethra/bladder. You can check other changes in your urination cycle against a questionnaire that is used by urologist and primary care doctors.
Blood in urine is known as hematuria.
Prostatitis may present with the same symptoms as prostate cancer but tends to be more painful in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic region. Prostatitis may be due to an infection and can present with a fever where cancer does not. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can mimic prostate cancer symptoms to the point where only diagnostic test and examination will help rule cancer out. Though, BPH most commonly present with lower urinary tract symptoms such as urgency to urinate, weak urine stream, waking up at night to go to the bathroom (nocturia) and straining to void urine. [18] X Research source Sausville J, Naslund M. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer: AN overview for primary care physicians. International journal of Clinical Practice. 2010;64(13):1740-1745. Also, almost 50% of men aged 50 to 80 may experience erection or ejaculation difficulties. [19] X Research source Bruskewitz R. Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Reviews in Urology. 2003 Spring; 5(2): 72–80. Nocturia (nighttime urination) is common as you age. The bladder loses elasticity and its ability to hold more urine the older you get. In addition, our bodies make less hormones over time, which slows down our kidney function at night causing more urine production than normal. This combination leads to frequent waking up and nighttime urination as well as more urination during the day. [20] X Research source [21] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source BPH and prostate cancer can cause nocturia but will normally present with weak stream of urine, lack of urination, burning sensation in penis from urinating, painful ejaculation and trouble getting an erection. Frequent daytime and nighttime urination can also be a symptom of diabetes (high blood sugar), which can also have serious complications. It is advised to seek medical advice from your doctor if you experience excessive nighttime and daytime urination. Keep a voiding diary, this is a two-day record of how much you drink, how often you have to go the bathroom and the urine output, any medications you are taking, any urinary tract infections, and any related symptoms. Your doctor will review the diary in order to determine the possible cause(s) of and treatment for the nocturia. [22] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Digital rectal examination (DRE). Your doctor will feel for your prostate with a gloved and lubricated index finger through your rectum. The doctor will then palpate the part of your rectum facing your belly button; the prostate lies above/in front. The doctor is feeling for any irregular shapes (lumps and bumps), contour (smooth or not smooth), size and tenderness. Abnormal findings include firm, bumpy, nonsmooth, and enlarged prostate. Normal DRE does not rule out prostate cancer unfortunately. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Your doctor will insert a needle in your arm and collect blood and send it out for detection of PSA. This is a specific protein found in your prostate. Most doctors conclude a level of 4ng/ml or lower is considered normal. Men with a PSA level between four and 10 have about a one in four chance of having prostate cancer. If the PSA is more than 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50% (10). PSA levels cause false positive or false negative results. Elevated levels may not indicate prostate cancer or issues — it serves as a guide. Normal levels do not indicate you don’t have cancer. Ejaculation (recent sexual activity), prostate infection, digital rectal examination and bike riding (this puts pressure on the prostate) can cause elevations of PSA. Those without prostate symptoms and elevated PSA may require repeat testing after two days. Repeat elevated PSA levels may warrant a DRE and/or biopsy of the prostate (needle inserted to take a piece of the prostate tissue for analysis) if symptoms are present. Cancer can occur even with normal results from the PSA test. TransRectal Ultrasound (TRUS). A small lubricated probe will be inserted into the rectum and emit sound waves that can produce a picture on the screen. What the doctor is looking for is enlarged size, abnormal shape and contour. This method cannot always tell the difference between normal and prostate cancer. Biopsy. This involves using a TRUS to guide a needle into the prostate gland and take a sample of the tissue for analysis. Your doctor will sample more than one area of the prostate for analysis. This is a definitive test for both BPH and prostate cancer. Your doctor may elect to undergo this if there is high level of suspicion but previous studies have come back negative/normal. A pathologist will use a Gleason grading system to analyze the tissue biopsy of the prostate. A grade from one to five can be assigned with five being cancer cells present and one being normal tissue present. If cancer is present, most biopsies are grade three or higher, and grades one and two are not often used.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia — The same tests and exams will be done to determine BPH as in prostate cancer with many of the results possibly overlapping; however, the biopsy will not show cancer cells. Prostatitis — The prostate will be tender upon DRE unlike in cancer.
Early prostate cancer is also known as localized prostate cancer. The cancer is contained within the prostate, and can even be present for years without causing any problems. At the advanced prostate cancer stage, the cancer has spread beyond the prostate and has entered other parts of the body and tissues. Prostate cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis and to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, such as the lungs and bones. [25] X Trustworthy Source American Cancer Society Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support Go to source
Age. Can happen at young or older ages but the risk is minimal in those younger than 40. Risk drastically increases after age 50. 6 out of 10 cases of cancer occur after age 65. Race/Ethnicity. Though the reasons are still not clear, prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men than in white men. African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer in their lifetime and twice as more likely to die from it. Geography. Though not clear but cultural diets and environment may be factors, North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean islands are at higher risk than those in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. Genetics. A father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk. Those with several affected relatives, particularly if they were young, are even more at risk. Diet. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products appear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors aren’t sure which of these factors is responsible for raising the risk. [26] X Trustworthy Source American Cancer Society Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support Go to source Obesity. Some studies, not all, have found an association with prostate cancer and increasing body mass index. [27] X Research source Freedland S, Aronson W. Examining the relationship between obesity and prostate cancer. Reviews in Urology. 2004 Spring; 6(2): 73–81. The link was greater with higher grade or advanced cancers. A recent study also found that obesity in African-American men leads to increased risk of both low grade and high grade prostate cancer. [28] X Trustworthy Source American Cancer Society Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support Go to source Smoking. Many studies have found that tobacco smoking increases the rate of prostate cancer. [29] X Research source Plaskon L. Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Prostate Cancer in Middle-Aged Men. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. July 2003 12; 604 Though, according to the American Cancer Society some studies show no link. Some research has linked smoking to a possible small increase in the risk of death from prostate cancer, but this finding will need to be confirmed by other studies. [30] X Trustworthy Source American Cancer Society Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support Go to source Inflammation of prostate (prostatitis). Studies have found links with prostatitis and prostate cancer but the link is not yet clear or definitive. In addition many tissue samples from prostate cancers show inflammation upon microscopy. [31] X Research source Sandhu JS. Prostate Cancer and Prostatitis. Journal of Current Urology Reports. 2008 Jul 9 (4):328-32.
