Prostate cancer is a cancer of a small gland located in the pelvis. This gland is part of the male reproductive system and hence prostate cancer can only be found in men. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers of men around the world, and the chances of getting it increase with age, although the actual cause of the cancer are still unknown.
Symptoms:
Prostate cancer is usually a slow developing cancer, so symptoms may not begin to show straight away. This is because the cancer doesn’t cause symptoms until it has grown large enough to make contact and put pressure on the area surrounding the prostate and especially the urethra.
Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
• Painful and irregular urination
• Weak and often irregular urine flow
• Reduced sexual desire and painful ejaculation
These symptoms can occur without prostate cancer, so exhibiting these symptoms does not mean someone has it. However, if you to show and if these symptoms you should contact your GP immediately who will be able to advise whether a test or scan is required.
Prostate cancer and symptoms can often be a slow moving process, and as it is most common amongst older men, many die without ever knowing they had the cancer. If caught in its early stage it can be treated with a reasonable amount of success, but once it has spread to the surrounding bone it is no longer curable. In this case a treatments purpose is to prolong life and reduce symptoms.
