There are many causes of prostate cancer that are still not clear, however some risks include: - Old age, over 50 years old
- Relative that has prostate cancer
- Tobacco smoking
- Dark skin
- Consume foods high in fats and overweight
- Sexual intercourse at a young age or has a family history with sexually transmitted diseases
- Multiple sexual partners
- High testosterone (male hormone) levels if you are going through testosterone therapy
Generally, there are no symptoms or signs of prostate cancer. However, men over the age of 80 are prone to developing prostate cancer. Because it grows at a slow pace, most men will die from other ailments of old age without knowing if they suffer from prostate cancer. If you show symptoms, they might include:
- Difficulty in passing urine
- Only passing a trickle of urine
- Less force in the stream of urine
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Not being able to urinate
- Blood in your urine or semen
- Pelvic, back or hip pain
- Weight loss
Your doctor may monitor the tumour as compared to opting for immediate treatment because the prostate cancer develops slowly. Some treatments might also impose high risks. Before determining which treatment is best, symptoms, age, and overall health condition is taken into consideration and the type and stage of the cancer. These treatments include:
- Surgery to remove the prostate, side effects of urinary incontinence and impotence might occur.
- Hormone therapy to counter the effect of testosterone
- Chemotherapy to alleviate the symptoms of prostate cancer
- Radiation therapy (high-energy X-rays) to kill the cancer cells
- Radioactive implants (brachytherapy) to deliver a high dose of radiation
- Age over 50 years old, advisable to consult for prostate cancer screening with your doctor
