The American Cancer Society estimates that 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States, including more than 6,000 cases in Tennessee alone. And that’s only part of the reason men should pay attention to their prostate health.
While prostate cancer may be the most well-known medical condition affecting the prostate, it’s far from the only one—and it’s not even the most common. The prostate is a small gland, but it can have a big impact on men’s health.
There’s a lot of information out there about how to protect your heart health, your eyesight, and even your joints, but what can you do to protect your prostate health? We’re sharing the details below.
The Prostate’s Role
The prostate is a gland that’s part of the male reproductive system. This walnut-shaped gland pairs up with the seminal vesicles to produce the fluid in semen.
During ejaculation, sperm moves into the urethra, where it combines with the fluid created by the prostate and seminal vesicles. This combination creates semen.
The prostate is located just below the bladder in front of the rectum. It’s relatively common for the gland to grow larger as you get older, which can cause disruptive symptoms.
Help is available, though. If you experience symptoms that may be related to the prostate, share them with your primary care provider (PCP). There’s no need to be embarrassed—problems with the prostate should be treated like any other health issue you face.
Prostate Health Conditions That Aren’t Cancer
Remember when we said that prostate cancer isn’t the most common health issue affecting the prostate? It’s true. Two other conditions are more common for men at certain ages. Prostatitis is the most common prostate health issue in men younger than age 50, while benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common issue in older men.
Let’s talk about prostatitis first. There are three different types of prostatitis, which all cause inflammation of the prostate: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and chronic prostatitis.
Acute bacterial and chronic bacterial prostatitis are caused by a bacterial infection. An acute infection can usually be treated effectively using an antibiotic and will resolve within a few days. A chronic infection, on the other hand, may come back again and again. This type of prostatitis is much less common and more difficult to treat.
Chronic prostatitis is inflammation that’s not caused by an infection. It can cause pain in the penis, groin, and lower back, and is sometimes called “chronic pelvic pain syndrome.” This condition may be treated using medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, causes an enlarged prostate. BPH occurs when prostate tissue grows too much. When this happens, the prostate can push against the urethra and the bladder, causing a number of disruptive urinary symptoms.
BPH doesn’t cause prostate cancer, but it can contribute to prostatitis. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as painful urination or ejaculation, changes in your urine stream, or a more frequent need to urinate, talk with your PCP. Different therapies, including medication and surgery, can help relieve symptoms.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Now let’s talk about cancer. While prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men, it’s usually slow-growing and quite treatable.
The five-year survival rate for prostate cancer found in a localized or regional stage, meaning only in the prostate or nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or organs, is higher than 99 percent. That means that prostate cancer detected in an early stage, before it spreads widely, is very treatable.
Being proactive about your prostate health can make it more likely that, if you develop prostate cancer, the cancer will be found early.
Keep a careful eye on your body. Know what’s normal for you when it comes to urinating and ejaculating. Talk with your PCP if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Blood in urine
- Bone pain
- Difficulty urinating
- Dull pelvic pain or pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
- Frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Painful ejaculation
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Weak urine flow
- Weight loss with no known cause
These symptoms can be a sign of a prostate health issue, either a benign condition or cancer. Your PCP can do a physical examination and order tests to determine what’s causing your symptoms.
It’s also important to know your risk of developing prostate cancer. While anyone with a prostate can develop cancer, it’s more common in people with certain risk factors, including:
- Being age 50 or older
- Being overweight or obese
- Eating a diet high in fat
- Having a family history of prostate cancer, especially in your father or brother
Prostate cancer is most common among Black men, with one in six African American men diagnosed with the disease. Hispanic and Native American men are also at a higher risk.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Prostate Health
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn ways to protect your prostate health. That starts with a healthy lifestyle.
You’re probably familiar with the basics—move your body for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week, eat a diet filled with fruits and vegetables, avoid excess saturated fat in your diet, don’t smoke, and limit your alcohol consumption. If you’re carrying a few extra pounds, work to drop those off.
See your PCP for regular checkups. During these appointments, talk with your provider about any changes you’re experiencing or questions you have about your prostate and bathroom habits. If you experience things outside of your norm in between annual checkups, give your provider a call.
Depending on your risk factors and other aspects of your personal and family health, your provider may recommend you undergo prostate cancer screening. Two screening tests—a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and a digital rectal exam (DRE)—are used together to detect cancer.
These screening tests work differently. PSA testing uses a blood sample to check your prostate-specific antigen level, which may be elevated when you have prostate cancer. Your provider performs a DRE, which is a manual palpation of the prostate to check for abnormalities in size, shape, or texture.
There’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation when it comes to prostate cancer screenings. Talk with your provider about what’s best based on your specific needs, including whether you should be screened, when you should be screened, and how frequently you should be screened.
Has it been a while since you had a checkup? Schedule an appointment today! Find a primary care provider here.
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