Home | health | 5 Early Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer To Look Out For

5 early warning signs of prostate cancer to look out for

5 early warning signs of prostate cancer to look out for

The prostate is a small gland located beneath the bladder in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer develops when there’s abnormal cell growth in one’s prostate gland. The disease progresses slowly, and its early stages are mainly asymptomatic. The chance of successful treatment is highest while the cancer is still confined to the gland. If left untreated, however, it can cause many health complications. Here are a few early signs that should prompt a prostate cancer screening.

Early signs of prostate cancer
Early stages of prostate cancer usually have no visible signs, but those in more advanced stages may exhibit the following symptoms:

Issues with urination and bladder control
The prostate gland is in proximity to the bladder, and the urethra responsible for one’s urination and sexual activity. So, one may feel the urge to empty one’s bladder more frequently or experience a burning sensation or pain while urinating. The urine flow may be weak and one may find it challenging to start or stop the flow. One may also find blood in urine or semen and a sudden shift in one’s usual bowel habits.

Fatigue and nausea
Cancerous cells consume a lot of energy and leave one feeling fatigued and nauseous. One may also lose body mass unnaturally without changing one’s lifestyle.

Pain
Prostate cancer may enlarge the gland and cause discomfort while sitting. One may also experience pain during urination or in other parts of one’s body, like the back, thighs, hips, shoulders, or bones.

Swelling
Men with advanced prostate cancer may exhibit more serious symptoms like swelling in the legs or pelvic area. Fluid may build up in one’s feet and cause pain or numbness in the legs.

Erectile dysfunction
Since the gland produces seminal fluid, prostate cancer may lead to erectile dysfunction.

These symptoms do not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. Other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, also share similar signs. Hence, those experiencing any of these symptoms are advised to consult a doctor and get screening tests done. Early detection can help curtail cancer growth in nearby lymph nodes and tissues.

Diagnosis
Prostate cancer can be detected early with tests like PSA and DRE. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measures the level of PSA in one’s blood sample. The Digital Rectal Exam, or DRE, is a physical examination to study the condition of one’s prostate gland. Any abnormalities in these tests prompt the healthcare professional to go for a prostate biopsy and check for cancer cells.

Risk factors
While the cause of prostate cancer is not known, those in older age are more susceptible to developing the disease. Prostate cancer is more common among males over 50 years. People living an unhealthy lifestyle may also be at risk. Since cancer is connected with one’s DNA and genes, family history is another significant risk factor.

Treatment
Prostate cancer grows slowly. Since most treatments involve high risk, a doctor may opt for watchful waiting and active surveillance during the early stages. This means that the symptoms are treated as they show up. For advanced stages, a doctor may combine various treatments to get the best results as per the severity of one’s condition. Surgeries, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, proton beam therapy, radiation therapy, and focal therapies are some common ones.

Read Also

Know more about exciting & latest articles right here

Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Hair loss is a natural process that automatically gets rid of old tissue and hair to promote new growth. So don’t be alarmed when you do find a few strands of hair tangled in your comb. However, a clearly visible scalp and a receding hairline are indicative of developing the problem of permanent hair loss. There are several internal and external factors that can accelerate hair fall, leading to pattern baldness in both men and women. Here are the top four reasons that trigger unnatural hair fall. Stress Stress ranks among the top risk factors associated with many medical conditions. In fact, one way or the other, taking physical or psychological stress harms the body more than you can imagine. For hair loss, especially, excessive shedding starts right after the body undergoes physical or psychological distress. A few examples include experiencing high fever, blood loss due to accident or injury, or even post-surgery recovery can result in stress that causes hair loss. Stress, coupled with anxiety, results in accelerated hair loss. To cope with this problem and reduce its effects, stress management is of crucial importance. Hormonal changes Men and women both experience hormonal changes throughout their lifetime. However, an imbalance associated with various conditions can trigger hair loss.
Read More
Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Hearing loss, deafness, or impairment is the partial or total inability to hear sounds. People with low to moderate hearing impairment face challenges in understanding what the other person is saying in a noisy environment. Whereas, people with severe deafness cannot hear anything, and rely completely on lip-reading and sign language skills. There are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and a combination of both. Let’s understand these types in detail and learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of each type. Sensorineural hearing loss It’s the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural is permanent hearing loss often caused by damage to the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The damage stops or weakens the transfers of nerve signals to the brain. These signals are essentially the intensity and clarity of sounds. Causes: Aging and exposure to loud noises for a long period of time are the most common cause of the damage. Certain medications and illnesses can also increase risks. It can even be genetic, and pass on to the child in the mother’s womb. Treatment: There is no medical or surgical treatment available to repair the tiny hair cells once they’re damaged.
Read More
Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

The heart is the most crucial organ in the body and as the system will cease to function if the heart stops or loses momentum pumping fresh oxygenated blood. This is why it is vital to not neglect your heart health at all and responsibly maintain a healthy, stress-free, and more importantly, a happy lifestyle. Here are a few simple lifestyle changes that will help support a healthy heart function. Switch to a healthy diet Avoid eating foods that are rich in trans and saturated fats. Most foods you find on the shelves of the supermarket contain large quantities of one or the other. Instead, switch to low-fat high fiber alternatives to help manage cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level in the body automatically reduces the risk of heart diseases. The simple reason for this is that fats that normally block major arteries and blood vessels are eliminated from these foods choices. It is also advisable to limit the salt (sodium) intake to control blood pressure and sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes simultaneously. Change certain lifestyle habits Reduce the number of alcoholic or carbonated drinks you have regularly. For men, it is advisable to have not more than two drinks and day and women must have only one.
Read More
How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

Heartburn is an unpleasant, burning sensation in the chest that is more common than a lot of individuals realize. Pregnant women, older men, and even young adults experience it frequently. Despite it being such a prevalent experience, not many know that heartburn has actually nothing to do with the heart and everything to do with the stomach and the esophagus. Unsurprisingly enough, heartburn is also used interchangeably with GERD. But, before we get to deciphering heartburn and GERD, let’s understand what acid reflux is. What is acid reflux or GER? Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES becomes weak, allowing the contents of the stomach to travel in the wrong direction, back up the esophagus. Acid reflux is also called GER or gastroesophageal reflux as it involves the stomach and esophagus. This condition can usually be resolved with over-the-counter medication. What is heartburn? Heartburn is a burning or painful sensation that is experienced in the chest. Since the lining of the esophagus is not as strong as the lining of the stomach, the acid from the stomach can cause a burning sensation in the chest. This pain or burning sensation that is heartburn can often be misconstrued for a heart attack.
Read More