- 04/December/2019
Prostate Cancer Kills - Symptoms - Ananthapuri Hospitals, Trivandrum
A 45-year-old male patient came to visit me last week.
“Doctor, I am a bit worried after hearing that my friend was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. I am curious to know more about it.
So doctor, actually what is prostate cancer?”
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, just like breast cancer in women. It is a type of cancer that affects your prostate - a small walnut-shaped muscular gland which produces fluid that carries sperms.
In most cases, prostate cancer grows slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment. Many men with the disease will never know they have it and live for years with no trouble. However, there also exists a few other types that become aggressive and spread quickly.
“So what causes this cancer, doctor?”
Well, mutations in your DNA can lead to the growth of cancerous cells. These cancerous cells grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells. Some of these cancerous cells can also spread to other parts of the body. Accumulation of these cells forms a tumour.
“Is there any way to find out if you have prostate cancer?”
In most cases, cancer grows very slowly. That’s why most men experience no symptoms until a later stage.
These symptoms and signs may include:
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Interrupted urine flow
- Blood in the urine
- Blood in the seminal fluid
- Difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection sufficient to have sex.
- Pain or burning sensation during urination
- Enlarged prostate causing discomfort and pain while sitting
In the later stages, as cancer spreads to the other parts of the body, a man may also experience:
- Pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones
- Swelling in the legs or feet
- Uncontrollable weight loss
- Fatigue
- Change in bowel habits
“Doctor, can we prevent it?”
As disappointing as it sounds, there is no clear evidence that you can prevent prostate cancer yet. However, to an extent, you may be able to lower your risk by following a healthy diet.
“What should I eat and what should I avoid in my diet, doctor?”
A healthy diet can keep you away from many diseases - so my advice is pretty much universal. Include more fruits and vegetables in your daily diet especially tomatoes, spinach, beans, watermelon and oranges. They contain antioxidants called lycopene in them that prevents damage to your DNA and lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Also, limit consumption of fatty foods and processed red meat. Whole-grain bread, cereals and rice are also good choices to keep your body healthy.
“Doctor, how dangerous is this cancer? Can it be cured?”
Yes, prostate cancer can be cured if detected early. Prostate cancer can be dangerous as it doesn’t show symptoms and often goes unnoticed in most of the cases till it gets serious. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and even lead to death.
“How often should I get this checkup?”
It is always healthy to get a prostate checkup once a year if you are above 45 years of age.
If you experience any combination of these symptoms, do visit a urologist immediately. Early detection of prostate cancer has a better chance of successful treatment.
As per IANS researches, prostate cancer is likely to double by 2020. Yet most men are ignorant of this condition.
Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute has the best team of urologists at your service.
To book an appointment, call us at +91 9400332777 or visit our hospital at Chacka, NH Bypass, Thiruvananthapuram.