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YWhat
is the Prostate?
The prostate is a small,
squishy gland about the size of a walnut that sits under the bladder and in
front of the rectum. The urethra, the narrow tube that runs the length of the
penis and that carries both urine and semen out of the body, runs directly
through the prostate; the rectum, or the lower end of the bowel, sits just
behind the prostate and the bladder. Sitting just above the prostate are the
seminal vesicles, two little glands that secrete about 60% of the substances
that makes up semen; running alongside and attached to the sides of the prostate
are the nerves that control erectile function.
Enlarged Prostate
The prostate is one of the main organs of the male reproductive system. This
organ is vital for the male sex organs to develop normally. In adult men, the
prostate acts mainly to add important fluids to the semen that nourish perm and
protect them against the natural acids in the vagina. In many men, the prostate
begins to grow when they are in their 50s, and it may continue to grow for the
rest of their lives. An enlarged prostate is usually for most men over age 50,
which means that if your prostate has started to grow, it may continue to grow.
As the prostate grows, it puts pressure on the urethra—the tube that carries
urine and semen out of the body. This increasing pressure on the urethra can
lead to bothersome urinary symptoms and future problems such as surgery on your
prostate. Although prostate cancer can also cause the prostate to grow, An
Enlarged Prostate may not be a cancerous condition, and it may not lead to
cancer. An Enlarged Prostate is not life threatening, but you need to have a
check up once a year and keep an eye on your PSA.
The prostate can "CHOKE" the urethra
causing:
1. Decrease force of the
urinary stream having to "push" the urine out.
2. Feeling as if bladder is not emptying
3. Increased urinating during nighttime
4. Stopping and starting of urinary stream
PSA (Prostate-specific
antigen) is a protein produced
by the cells of the prostate gland. A PSA test measures the level of PSA in the
blood. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the PSA
test along with a digital rectal exam to help detect prostate cancer in men age
50 and older.The FDA has also approved the PSA test to monitor patients with a
history of prostate cancer to see if the cancer has recurred. The higher a man’s
PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present, but there are many
other possible reasons for an elevated PSA level.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the
prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. It is
normal for men to have low levels of PSA in their blood; however, prostate
cancer or benign conditions can increase PSA levels. As men age, both benign
prostate conditions and prostate cancer become more frequent. The most common
benign prostate conditions are prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate and
benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH enlargement of the prostate. PSA levels alone
do not give doctors enough information to distinguish between benign prostate
conditions and cancer. However, the doctor will take the result of the PSA test
into account when deciding whether to check further for signs of prostate cancer.
Most doctors considered PSA values below
4.0 ng/ml as normal.
1. 0 to 2.5 ng/ml is low, good.
2. 2.6 to 4.0 ng/ml is slightly elevated
3. 4.0 to 19.9 ng/ml is moderately elevated
4. 20 ng/ml or more is significantly elevated
The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present. But
because various factors can cause PSA levels to fluctuate, one abnormal PSA test
does not necessarily indicate a need for other diagnostic tests. When PSA levels
continue to rise over time, other tests may be needed.
A man should discuss elevated PSA test results with his doctor. There are many
possible reasons for an elevated PSA level, including prostate cancer, benign
prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection and age.
Prostatitis and Symptoms
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. Painful urination, Urgencies,
Sensation of having to urinate immediately. Blood in semen, Discomfort in
genital area, Lower back pain, Painful ejaculation, Recurring urinary tract
infection. Urinary retention and Infection in bloodstream.
Prostate Cancer
Is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male
reproductive system. Cancer occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin
to multiply out of control. These cells may spread from the prostate to other
parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may
cause pain, difficulty in urinating, erectile dysfunction and other symptoms.
Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over
fifty. It is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. It is
responsible for more male deaths than any other cancer, except lung cancer.
However, many men who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no
therapy, and eventually die of other causes. Many factors, including genetics
and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
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