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Essay On Prostate Cancer

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Elder Care Services and Prostate Cancer

The Centers for Disease Control says that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men (other than skin cancer). Each year a man ages, his chances of developing prostate cancer increases. The good news is that prostate cancer does not typically lead to further health problems and spreads slowly. In fact, many doctors are now recommending, especially in seniors, that the cancer is monitored (an action known as active surveillance) and not treated unless absolutely necessary, since the side effects of surgery or other treatment options are often far worse than the prostate cancer itself.

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. This walnut-sized gland is located just under …show more content…

Sometimes and enlarged prostate is not caused by cancer but by a medical problem called benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarging of the prostate).

There is currently no one set of traits or behaviors that are linked to prostate cancer. The CDC notes, however, that if a man has "a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer [he] is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself."

A man may suspect he has prostate cancer if he starts to have difficulty urinating and/or cannot fully empty the bladder, experiences frequent nighttime urination, has a burning sensation while urinating or sees blood in the urine, experiences pain the back of the pelvis, or experiences painful ejaculation. These symptoms do not necessarily mean that prostate cancer is present, but a medical check-up is certainly warranted, especially if more than one of the symptoms is experienced.

The doctor can check for an enlarged prostate through a manual examination of the gland. They will also draw blood to check for abnormal levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. If the levels are too high, a biopsy of the prostate may be

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