so what teeth Why does the prostate cause so many problems for men?
It’s a topic that most people don’t want to discuss. But it can have a huge impact on your life.
The prostate is a small organ located just below the bladder. Its main function is to provide a nutritious fluid that aids in the transport of sperm.
As men age, the prostate tends to increase in size. And when the gland becomes enlarged, it can obstruct the flow of urine from the bladder. To put it simply, it becomes difficult to urinate and you end up going to the bathroom many times during the night.
That’s what King Charles has: Also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH, or “enlarged prostate.” The key word here is “benign,” and the symptoms are rarely life-threatening.
An even bigger problem is if the prostate becomes cancerous. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Illness diagnosed with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The problem with this is that while approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the progression of prostate cancer is often very slow and, if untreated, approximately 80% of men will die of old age. This means that they will die from the cause.
However, prostate cancer grows quickly and can pose a major threat.
So what should I do?
You may be familiar with a screening blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen). There are limitations to using the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer because the PSA protein is made by both his BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostate cancer tissue.
Because benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer both lead to elevated PSA levels, there are concerns that PSA screening may lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This has led to disagreement among medical experts about its overall benefits.
Tests can produce false positives. This may lead to unnecessary biopsies being performed because the patient may suspect cancer when in fact it is not. Or if a slow-growing cancer is diagnosed and overtreated.
Bottom line: Consult your health care provider to carefully discuss the risks and benefits of screening, considering individual factors such as family history, age, and race.
If your PSA is elevated, other tests may help determine whether a biopsy is needed.
If cancer is suspected, a biopsy can confirm it. A wide range of approaches will also be considered, from active surveillance (just monitoring tests to see if cancer grows) to zapping just the part of the prostate where cancer is found. , to remove or destroy the entire gland.
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In Secretary Austin’s case, his cancer led doctors to completely remove his prostate. [Prostate cancer is more common in Black men.]
As for King Charles, he is expected to be treated for an enlarged prostate in hospital this week and is expected to be OK.
Two men, two common diagnoses, and two very different treatments have lessons for us all.
For more information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prostate Cancer
Story produced by Alan Golds. Editor: Carol Ross.
See also:
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