Prostate Cancer: Why Checkups Are So Important!

The most common type of cancer among women is breast cancer; for men, it’s prostate cancer. The same is true of both types of cancer though: the earlier it is diagnosed, the better the chances of recovery. Yet, according to surveys, men are far less likely to go to cancer checkups than women. Only around half of all men take the opportunity to go to cancer checkups, even though early diagnosis of prostate cancer is incredibly important. We’re going to discuss why this might be, and what to expect.

• What is prostate cancer and what are the possible symptoms?
• Prostate cancer checkups: they’re there for you!
  • Statutory early diagnosis: what happens at prostate cancer checkups
  • The PSA test and how it can help
• How you can prevent prostate cancer

What is prostate cancer and what are the possible symptoms?

Prostate cancer or prostate carcinoma is when men have a malignant tumor in the prostate gland. As we mentioned above, it is the most common type of cancer in men. However, it tends to affect men over the age of 50, rather than younger men. Tumors can form in different parts of the prostate. In most men, tumors develop in the outer area of the prostate. It is less common for the smaller, inner area of the prostate to be affected. Tumors in the central part of the prostate are even rarer. A cancerous tumor is where healthy cells grow uncontrollably, causing a growth. Prostate cancer is mostly found in the prostate’s gland cells. Doctors refer to it as adenocarcinoma. The male hormone testosterone stimulates the growth of prostate tumors. If cancerous cells have formed in the male prostate, testosterone stimulates fast growth.

Do you want to know the possible signs of prostate cancer? The following are symptoms that might indicate prostate cancer and should be checked out:  

• You have an increased urge to urinate, especially at night.
• You struggle to urinate at all.
• You only have a weak or interrupted urinary flow.
• You feel pain around the prostate and in the lower back.
• Ejaculation is painful.
• You notice blood in your urine or in your semen.

These symptoms could all potentially be signs of prostate cancer, so you should always get them checked out. It’s important to seize the opportunity of a prostate cancer checkup so that it doesn’t get to that point!

Prostate cancer checkups – they’re there for you!

It’s Movember again! Have you wondered what that actually means? Since 2003, men grow a moustache in November to raise money for research and screening for prostate cancer. The campaign name is “Movember:” a combination of the words “moustache,” and “November,” now recognized around the world. As well as raising money, it is raises awareness of men’s health issues, because too few men still go for a checkup. So, while we’re talking about Movember, let’s look at the different options for prostate cancer checkups:

• Statutory early diagnosis: what happens at prostate cancer checkups

From the age of 45, men are entitled to an appointment for early diagnosis of prostate cancer with a doctor every year. The doctor first starts by asking about possible symptoms or pain. Next, your doctor will examine the genitals and lymph nodes in your groin The prostate is also palpated from the rectum in what’s known as a digital rectal examination. This enables the doctor to feel possible tumors. Many men are particularly worried about this examination, which is why they are not happy about going or simply avoid checkups. This kind of examination is almost routine for the doctor, and certainly nothing to be worried about. It does not require any preparation, and does not normally hurt. Your doctor will moisten their finger with a personal lubricant and insert it into your anus, to be able to check everything. Unfortunately, doctors can only feel shallow and large tumors through this examination, which is why experts recommend other early diagnosis methods.

• The PSA test and how it can help

A PSA test uses a protein to determine whether there is a tumor in the prostate. This protein is formed in the prostate. It is referred to as a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA for short. This is normally only found in the blood at low levels. However, cancer cells create more PSA than healthy cells, with the antigen being detected through a blood test. The man has some blood taken, and this is tested for the antigen. If the concentration in the blood is elevated or exceeds a certain limit, the test is repeated. Additional examinations are only carried out if the level is also elevated in a second PSA test.  In Germany, you must pay for this test yourself. It is not covered by health insurance, and is also not without controversy. This is because an elevated PSA level can be elevated for other reasons – it doesn’t necessarily mean cancer. An inflamed prostate or a benign tumor also release more PSA. The pressure that is exerted on the prostate, for example through an earlier palpation examination, a recent ejaculation, or even the pressure exerted when cycling, can also increase, and therefore falsify the PSA level in the blood. This is why experts continue to debate the usefulness of the PSA test. The benefit is that tumors can be discovered at an early stage, however it might also lead to the discovery of benign tumors that would not otherwise have caused any medical issues. You should therefore think carefully before taking this test.

How you can prevent prostate cancer

In another article we already discussed what women can do to prevent breast cancer. In the same way, men can protect themselves from cancer by paying particular attention to aspects of their lifestyle:

• Maintain your normal weight: Make sure you do not gain excess weight. In the best scenario, you are a normal weight and manage to maintain this weight by doing the two following things.
• Exercise enough: Regular exercise keeps you fit and healthy. It’s the best way to maintain your normal weight and stay fit, which can prevent many illnesses.
• Be mindful of your diet: Eating lots of plant products, doing without excess meat, not drinking alcohol, and avoiding tobacco, is generally very important for your health and can help to prevent prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer affects many men as they get older. This makes it even more important to take steps to prevent it, protect your health, and go to checkups. Regularly! Find out more from your doctor or a local urologist, and don’t wait until you have symptoms of prostate cancer to get checked out. If prostate cancer is diagnosed early, there are good treatment options. 90 percent of all people who are diagnosed with prostate cancer early, can be cured, and go on to have a long life expectancy. So, go to your checkups and prevent possible cancer!

Image sources: pexels-mo3ath-photos-110226063 ; pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5452237