Prostate Problems, Prostate Cancer.
Right Chaps, DO NOT switch away from this post, it MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!
Ladies, make sure your bloke reads this; also it will help you help “him” if you read it too.
Traditionally Blokes tend to sway away from visiting their GP’s, it’s a man thing!! We think if we ignore things then all will be ok, well it wont!! And they don’t, simple.
All blokes have a Prostate, it’s a very useful little gland down there amongst those nether regions we don’t want to mention, does some good stuff too, but in ALL men it changes as we get older, honest, it does.
Prostate cancer generally affects men over 50 and is rare in younger men, but it can happen
It’s the most common type of cancer in men.
Around 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
It differs from most other cancers in the body, in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant (inactive) for many years.
It’s thought that about half (50%) of all men over 50 may have cancer cells in they’re prostate, and 8 out of 10 (80%) men over 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow very slowly and so, particularly in elderly men, are unlikely to cause any problems.
BUT FIRST…
If you actually want to know what your prostate looks like and where it is click here
In most men (me as your correspondent can vouch for this) it gets bigger as we get older, changes are taking place in your thirties sometimes, and become noticeable in your 40s onwards. and when it does it can make life a bit difficult, occasionally uncomfortable and with that annoying problem of the “drips”, you know what I mean chaps.
You can do a lot to take care of yourself and give your body what it needs. Still, as you get older, your body changes in ways you can’t always control. For most men, one of those changes is that the prostate gets bigger.
We cover later in this article the three main issues with a prostate, including Prostate Cancer in which we explain in a little more in-depth.
BUT IF YOUR WORRIED NOW, ABOUT THIS SUBJECT
IF THINGS DONT SEEM RIGHT
GO AND SEE YOUR GP,
DO IT NOW,
MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT.
We also name below, several local Help groups and Charities all of which offer good supportive advice, Their contact details will be below and also posted in our signposting section in our welfare part of the Daletrust web
Ok, Basicly, if you have to get up in the night more than once to have a pee, and maybe not successful to,, then usually it’s a sign that things are on the move.
But don’t panic, honestly don’t., but it’s a time to maybe think about having a chat with your GP. It might not be a prostate problem, but some other water works issue, but in all probability it isn’t.
An enlarged Prostate does not mean Cancer, it means just that, your Prostate is enlarges and as I said this happens in the majority of men as we get older, the doctors have one of those long-winded names for it and it is this
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) you can read about that HERE
but here in simple terms is what it is, first its Benign, meaning not Cancer.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate gland. Symptoms can include trouble with urination, a weak urine stream, and not feeling empty after urination. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medicine,
BPH isn’t prostate cancer and doesn’t make you more likely to get it.
It’s a common condition, especially in older men (usually 50 onwards, but mine started in the my 40’s), and there are a lot of treatments for it, from lifestyle changes to medication to surgery. Your doctor can help you choose the best care based on your age, health, and how the condition affects you.
What Should I Watch Out For Again?
Symptoms of BPH fall into 2 categories. Those caused by pressure on your urethra are called obstructive. The others start in your bladder.
Some of the obstructive symptoms include:
- Trouble starting to urinate
- You have to strain or push when you pee
- The stream is weak
- You have to stop and restart several times
- Pee dribbles out at the end
If BPH causes changes in your bladder, it may include these signs:
- You suddenly feel a strong need to urinate. Doctors call this “urgency.”
- You have to pee more than 8 times a day. This is called “frequency.”
- Even after you go, you feel as though your bladder is not empty.
- You wake up often in the night to relieve yourself. This is called “nocturia.”
If you have any of these symptoms chaps,
GO AND CONSULT YOUR GP
Before We mention the other two Prostate problems, one being Prostate Cancer we need to address the typical male reaction, which is!
” What go and see a doctor and have a finger stuck up my bum!
and any way my doctor is a woman”
Sound familiar? Heard it before?
Us chaps don’t really like going to the doctors, we really don’t and that’s puzzling, because if your household boiler leaked, your would call a plumber and get it fixed, same with a problem with the car, so why should the rule not apply to our bodies? something is not right, go and get it fixed, which brings me back to the statement above.
Yes, just one of several tests to see if your Prostate is enlarged is to feel if it has actually become enlarged and the dreaded finger takes literally seconds, let me explain. The rectal exam the doctor does takes a second, that’s all they need to know if your prostate is enlarged or hard, their not reaching to check your tonsils! , they use a gloved finger, lie on your side and bingo its done before you know. embarrassed, well of course we are, we are human, but think on this, if your GP is middle-aged and a bloke, he probably has or will have to have it done himself, and besides he has done this exam so many times its easy peasey, and if it’s a lady, well again it’s probably nothing compared to what the girls have to go through in their lives, so man up, and get it done, be safe and be well, it will be worth it
But having said all of this your doctor will also organise a simple blood test, probably a urine test and maybe even a scan, but the test you may have heard of is called a
PSA Test, it stands for Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA for short
Prostatespecific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. … the use of the PSA test in conjunction with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to test asymptomatic men for prostate cancer is now standard, its quick and easy and if in doubt ask your doctor, if you have any concerns then do it now, not later.
In general, a PSA level that is above 4.0 ng/mL is considered suspicious. … 10.0 ng/mL and above is dangerous and should be discussed with your doctor immediately. It is associated with a 50% chance of having prostate cancer.
Tell me again please, What is the PSA test?
It’s the most common screening tool for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This is a simple blood test that measures the presence of PSA circulating in your bloodstream. This test is usually the first step in any prostate cancer diagnosis. However, the PSA screening by itself cannot tell you if cancer is present.
The PSA test is also used to track the effects of prostate cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. When a man has treatment for prostate cancer, his PSA level will drop significantly. Regular screening with PSA is one of the tools the physician will use to measure if the cancer has returned.
When PSA levels rise to a certain threshold after prostate cancer treatment, this is known as biochemical recurrence. This means that some cancer cells have survived and are producing PSA. If this happens, the doctor will order additional tests and make recommendations for additional treatment.
So what is a Prostate-Specific Antigen?
PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells, which keeps semen in liquid form so that sperm can swim. A simple blood test can measure how much PSA is present in a man’s bloodstream. When a man has prostate cancer, his PSA level increases, which is why the PSA test is used as a screening tool.
However, the levels of PSA can rise due to a number of reasons, including cancer. When PSA is elevated it is a warning sign that you should follow-up on with your doctor.
and now the other two prostate issues
Prostatitis. Unlike most prostate problems, prostatitis — inflammation or an infection of the prostate — occurs more often in young and middle-aged men. Only 5% to 10% of men develop prostatitis in their lifetime.
If your prostate becomes swollen, tender, and inflamed, you have a condition called “prostatitis.” This isn’t cancer, and it’s different from having an “enlarged prostate.”
Here are four types of prostatitis. Each has its own set of symptoms and causes. These include:
Acute bacterial prostatitis. Your urinary tract is made up of your kidneys, bladder, and the tubes that pass between them. If bacteria from here finds its way into your prostate, you can get an infection.
This type of prostatitis comes on quickly. You might suddenly have:
- High fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain
- Pain around the base of your penis or behind your scrotum
- Lower back pain
- Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement
- Trouble peeing
- Weak urine stream
Acute bacterial prostatitis is a severe condition.
If you notice these symptoms, seek medical care right away.
Consult your GP, no messing arround on the internet looking it up, GO AND SEE YOUR GP
Chronic bacterial prostatitis. This is more common in older men. It’s a milder bacterial infection that can linger for several months. Some men get it after they’ve had a urinary tract infection (UTI) or acute bacterial prostatitis.
The symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis often come and go. This makes them easy to miss. With this condition, you might sometimes have:
-
-
- An urgent need to pee, often in the middle of the night
- Painful urination
- Pain after you ejaculate (release semen at orgasm)
- Lower back pain
- Rectum pain
- A “heavy” feeling behind your scrotum
- Blood in your semen
- A UTI
- Urinary blockage (no urine comes out)
-
- Again Chaps, no messing arround, go and see your GP
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This is the most common type of prostatitis. It shares many of the same signs as bacterial prostatitis. The difference is that when tests are run, no bacteria are present with this type.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes CP/CPPS. Triggers include stress, nearby nerve damage, and physical injury. Chemicals in your urine or a UTI you had in the past may play a role. CP/CPPS has also been linked to immune disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS
Again Chaps, no messing arround, go and see your GP
Prostate Cancer.
Ok, probably the bit no one wants to read about, but if you have read the text above then you will already have a good understanding of whats may be needed,
Prostate cancer generally affects men over 50 and is rare in younger men. It’s the most common type of cancer in men. Around 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. This figure can be substantially lowed if us men went to the doctors sooner, it’s that simple, so if you’re not sure visit your GP and thrash it out with them
Prostate Cancer differs from most other cancers in the body, in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant (inactive) for many years.
It’s thought that about half (50%) of all men over 50 may have cancer cells in their prostate, and 8 out of 10 (80%) men over 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow very slowly and so, particularly in elderly men, are unlikely to cause any problems.
In a small proportion of men, prostate cancer can grow more quickly and in some cases may spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
Cancer of the prostate is often slow-growing and symptoms may not occur for many years.
Men with early prostate cancer are unlikely to have any symptoms, as these only occur when the cancer is large enough to put pressure on the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder). In men over the age of 50, the prostate gland often gets larger due to a non-cancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH) we have covered that in above text.
The symptoms of both benign enlargement of the prostate gland and malignant tumours (cancer) are similar and can include any of the following:
- difficulty passing urine
- passing urine more frequently than usual, especially at night
- pain when passing urine
- blood in the urine (this is not common).
If you have any of these symptoms it’s important to get them checked by your doctor.
But remember, most enlargements of the prostate are not cancer.
So chaps, as we keep telling you, if you’re not sure consult your GP
Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer
The symptoms of advanced prostate cancer may include those that are due to an enlarged prostate gland (as above), or those that are due to secondary cancers elsewhere in the body.
The symptoms due to secondary cancers will depend on where in the body the secondary cancers are. However, there are a few general symptoms which some men have, including being more tired than usual, feeling generally unwell and having less of an appetite.
if you’re not sure consult your GP
Secondary cancer in the bones
The first sign of a secondary cancer in the bones| is usually a nagging ache in the affected bone. This can become painful, making it difficult to sleep at night or to move around without taking painkillers.
The pain is generally their day and night and is different from other types of pain like arthritis, which is often worse early in the morning and not there all the time.
A secondary cancer in the bone may gradually make the bone weaker. Pain and weakness can make getting around difficult, and a bone that is very weak may break (fracture) more easily.
When bones are affected by cancer cells, extra calcium may be released into the blood. A raised blood calcium level is called hypercalcaemia. This can cause symptoms such as tiredness, feeling sick (nausea), constipation, thirst, poor appetite and confusion.
Consult your GP for advice and treatment to make you feel better
Secondary cancer in the bone marrow
Sometimes prostate cancer can spread to the bone marrow. This is the spongy material found in the centre of our bones. It produces the different types of blood cells in the blood, which include:
- red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body
- white blood cells, which help fight infection
- platelets, which help the blood to clot and prevent bleeding.
If the bone marrow is unable to produce enough blood cells you may become anaemic, be more likely to get infections or to have bruising or bleeding.
Other symptoms
Prostate cancer can occasionally affect other parts of the body such as the lungs, lymph nodes,brain or liver. If you notice any new symptoms that last for a couple of weeks or more, you should discuss them with your cancer specialist.
It’s important to remember that any of the symptoms mentioned here can be caused by conditions other than cancer.
The sooner you talk to the Doctor,
the sooner you will get treatment,
and the sooner you can get on with life
The following are excellent agencies and charities which will give you a clear picture to supplement what we have here, all the contact details are included
Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate information
On these pages you can read reliable and up-to-date information about prostate cancer and prostate problems. You can also download or order any of our publications for more detail. If you have questions or want to talk, our Specialist Nurses are here for you
The link to Prostate Cancer UK is HERE
If you need advice now
call our specialised nurses
0800 074 8383
About prostate cancer
Information about prostate cancer, signs and symptoms, risk and incidence. Click Here
Tests
Find out about tests and test results for prostate cancer and prostate problems. Click HERE
Who is at risk
One in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer. Age, ethnicity and family history are also factors.
Click Here
Just Diagnosed?
Read about the different types of prostate cancer and what your diagnosis means. Click Here
Treatments
Read about treatments for prostate cancer, with more information about how to choose. Click Here
Our Free Publications
Our address is:
- Prostate Cancer UK, Fourth Floor, The Counting House, 53 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QN
- Contact online, or email us at supportercare@prostatecanceruk.org
- tel: 0800 082 1616
or call our specialised nurses
0800 074 8383
NHS ‘one stop shop’ for prostate cancer means faster and more accurate diagnosis
Click Here to find out More
The NHS is using cutting edge technology to help slash diagnosis times for prostate cancer from six weeks to one day in a world-leading new approach that virtually eliminates the risk of deadly sepsis.
The new scanning and diagnosis method means a ‘one-stop-shop’ for suspected prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year.
The NHS is determined to cut the mortality rate for prostate cancer in the same way that has seen breast cancer rates decline by 10%.
The usual process is an MRI scan followed by a biopsy where around a dozen samples may have to be taken with a needle through the rectum, in order to locate suspect growths on the prostate.
Under the new ‘rapid pathway’ approach, which is being developed in three hospitals across West London, men have a scan, get their results and can have any necessary biopsy, using new FUSION technology, in one day, rather than multiple outpatient visits over four to six weeks.
The approach involves specialist clinical expertise as well as equipment and NHS England is currently looking into how it could be rolled out to other major cancer centres across England.
The new technique uses highly detailed ‘multi-parametric’ MRI – mpMRI – scans, currently being rolled out across the NHS, which provide much higher quality imagery. Between a third and 40% of patients who have an mpMRI scan will find out on the same day that they do not have prostate cancer and can safely avoid having a biopsy. The machines are also able to pick up growths that are much harder to detect.
If a biopsy is needed, the new FUSION machines will overlay ultrasound images with 3D MRI scans to create a highly detailed map of the prostate that can be used to accurately target suspect areas for taking tissue samples. The new system means an area as small as a grain of rice can be hit first time.
This precision allows clinicians to insert the needle through the perineum, rather than the rectum, reducing the risk of infection from between 2% to 6% to around one case in 500.
Read more on how to get the help you need HERE
East Lancashire Prostate Cancer Support Group (HERE)
We are a group of local people who know about prostate cancer. We are a friendly organisation dedicated to offering support to men who have had or who are experiencing the effects of this potentially life threatening disease.
The East Lancs Prostate Cancer Support Group offers a place for free exchange of information and help for local men and their supporters (family and friends) who may be affected by this increasingly common form of male cancer.
At each meeting we strive to be a happy, supportive and upbeat group of people; encouraging open discussion on what can be a very difficult and perhaps for some an embarrassing subject. We have lively, informative, interactive, sharing and above all supportive meetings.
Get in touch
Website Admin: 07927 064 571
burnley@realtd.co.uk
REAL (Burnley),
12 Bury Road,
Haslingden,
Lancashire,
BB4 5PL
The Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal Click HERE
About Barry
Barry is the vice-chairman of Premier League Club Burnley FC. He was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2011, and having had no symptoms he was understandably shocked by the result. He is determined to help as many men as possible from being put in the same position as he was.
About Us
Having been active since 2014, Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal is now gearing up considerably due to the fantastic response of people to the initiative. We already have testing day enquiries that will take us into 2020, and these will be located across the UK. Our overall goal is to help to save local men’s lives with simple PSA blood testing events at local sports grounds. There are no national screening events for prostate cancer, and this is why our services are so important. Men don’t always go to their doctor, but they’ll visit a football ground, and that’s why we base our events in these locations. We don’t want anyone to suffer from this illness, so please consider supporting us today!
Get In Touch
0333 320 8525
info@thebkpca.com
Address
Ribble Court, Mead Way
Padiham BB12 7NG