The prostate gland is a fairly small gland that is roughly the the same size as a walnut and is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate is a very important gland that makes the liquid that helps carry sperm.
A significant problem which can arise with the prostate gland is prostate cancer which is a life-threatening condition which presently strikes roughly ten percent of all men and is the second commonest cause of cancer related death in men these days.
So just how does this condition begin?
Prostate cancer starts life as a malignant tumor in the prostate gland which, if left untreated, can spread over time into neighboring tissue and organs and then into the lymph nodes and bone.
Just what are the risk factors involved when it comes to contracting prostate cancer?
Nearly three-quarters of people affected with this disease are over the age of 65.
Men with family members such as a grandfather or father who have had cancer of the prostate are up to 11 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men without any family history of the disease.
The death rate in men with this condition rises with weight and is especially high in men who are obese.
Men of Caucasian decent are over two times more likely to contract this disease than those of African decent.
What can I do to prevent myself from contracting prostate cancer?
In reality there is nothing which you can do to prevent yourself from contracting this disease although some people are convinced that eating a healthy diet can lower the possibilities. At this point in time there is little if any evidence to support this.
How to go about diagnosing prostate cancer.
There are various tests available including the PSA test, the digital rectal examination and a biopsy.
The PSA test measures the level of a prostate specific antigen in the bloodstream. High PSA levels are not an indication of prostate cancer but are an indication of a possible problem that ought to be investigated further.
The digital rectal exam requires your doctor to wear a glove and insert a lubricated finger into the anus to feel the prostate looking for enlargement or irregularity.
In the case of a prostate biopsy the doctor will take a number of tissue samples from your prostate gland which will then be studied under a microscope for any signs of abnormal cells.
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