Prostate Cancer and its Symptoms

 

prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer in men that develops in the prostate gland, and is generally characterized by urinary disturbances. Most people with prostate cancer are over 65 years old. This cancer is not aggressive and develops slowly.

The prostate is a small gland located at the base of the bladder. This gland is part of the male reproductive system and is positioned around the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The prostate also functions as a producer of semen, which is the fluid that is released with sperm during ejaculation.

Prostate cancer, what causes it?

According to WHO data, prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer experienced by men. It is estimated that about 1.3 million men worldwide suffer from prostate cancer. In Indonesia alone, prostate cancer ranks 2nd as the most common type of cancer in men and the problem is that this disease, which is more common in men, is often underestimated, either by symptoms or by other triggering factors.

The following are various risk factors for prostate cancer:

1. Age factor

Health experts call prostate cancer as a health problem that tends to attack older men. About 80 percent of the total cases of prostate cancer were found in men over the age of 65 years. This means that the elderly should be aware of this health problem.

2. Having heredity

Genetic or hereditary factors have a major influence on the risk of prostate cancer. If one family member has prostate cancer, then the risk for developing this disease will increase. This means, if there is a family with a history of this disease, we must adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent its arrival.

3. Being obese

Men who have obesity problems tend to have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer problems. It is for this reason that we should maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly in order to maintain an ideal body weight.

4. Diet

A healthy diet will not only keep your weight in check, but will reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. If we eat foods with high calcium content in excess, then the risk of developing this disease will increase. This means, we really shouldn't eat too much red meat or dairy products with high fat content.

5. Coming from a certain race

People who come from African American, Caribbean, North American, Northwestern European and Australian races tend to be more at risk of prostate cancer.

6. Suffering from sexually transmitted diseases

Those who suffer from sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia also have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

Some early symptoms of prostate cancer that we should be aware of

In addition to triggering factors for prostate cancer, we should also be aware of the early symptoms of this disease.

Here are the various early symptoms of prostate cancer.

Experiencing a change in urination habits is like wanting to do it more often, especially at night.

1. It is difficult to resist the urge to urinate.

2. Having trouble urinating, such as being difficult to expel.

3. The flow of urine tends to be weaker or even intermittent.

4. Feeling the bladder is not completely empty.

5. A burning sensation when urinating.

6. Blood in the urine.

If the cancer has started to spread, it will cause symptoms such as pain sensations in the back, waist, and thighs, drastic weight loss, tired body, and no longer able to control urination habits.

Be sure to check with your doctor if you start to suspect a change in urination habits to determine whether it is related to prostate cancer or not.

Referensi :

1. https://www.alodokter.com/kanker-prostat

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