Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer
Post Date - Sep 28, 2023
At Ascend, we want all our drivers to have the knowledge and resources to protect and care for their physical health. Research by Anthem BlueCross BlueShield shows that prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in American men, so we researched the disease to help support you in your healthcare journey.
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a part of a man’s reproductive system. It is a small gland that creates semen and supports a healthy reproduction cycle. Prostate cells become cancerous when a change in the gene occurs. The cause for this change is unknown, but certain risk factors exist.
Risk factors
The risk factors that increase your chance of developing prostate cancer include the following:
- Age: Three out of five cases affect men over 65.
- Family history: If your brother or father has had prostate cancer, your chances of developing it are doubled.
- Race: Black men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Weight: Being overweight can create a delay in finding the cancer.
- Diet: Red meat and high-fat diet without a balance of fruits and vegetables increase the likelihood of prostate cancer.
If you identify with these risk factors, consider scheduling a screening with your healthcare provider.
Screenings
Prostate cancer is an exceptionally slowly progressing cancer, so some men elect not to have screenings or decide not to treat their cancer if they do have it. Discussing a potential prostate screening is an individual conversation between men and their healthcare providers, where all benefits and risks are thoroughly assessed. The screening is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening that measures the level of PSA in the blood. The prostate makes PSA, and an increased amount can signal the presence of prostate cancer.
Symptoms
Screenings are vital because most men don’t detect unusual or noteworthy symptoms. When men do experience symptoms, they range from frequent urination, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and painful ejaculation to pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, and upper thighs. Scheduling a screening with your healthcare provider is highly recommended if you align with the risk factors and are also experiencing these symptoms. This thought may be anxiety-provoking, but several treatments are available if prostate cancer is found.
Treatment
In 90% of cases, prostate cancer can be successfully cured when it’s caught early. There are various effective treatment options, including monitoring the tumor, surgery, radiation, cryosurgery (using freezing gas on the prostate instead of removing it), hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and vaccination, where the immune system is triggered to attack the cancerous cells.
Your carrier should be supportive and have the right resources to get you the healthcare you need and deserve. For a page that cares, connect with Ascend.
Sources
1 American Cancer Society website: Survival rates for prostate cancer (accessed June 2019): cancer.org.
2 American Cancer Society website: What are the key staƟsƟcs about prostate cancer? (accessed June 2019): cancer.org.
3 American Cancer Society website: What are the risk factors for prostate cancer? (accessed June 2019): cancer.org.
4 American Cancer Society website: Can prostate cancer be found early? (accessed June 2019): cancer.org.
5 Prostate Cancer FoundaƟon website: Prostate Cancer Symptoms (accessed June 2019): pcf.org.
6 American Cancer Society website: How is prostate cancer treated? (accessed June 2019): cancer.org.