Is It A Prostate Cancer Symptom?

A prostate cancer symptom can mimic symptoms of the more benign medical conditions such as enlarged prostate (BPH) or prostatitis. Frequently, a doctor first detects signs of prostate cancer during a routine examination. That’s why you should visit your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms below:

• Difficulty urinating or retaining urine
• Frequent urination, particularly at night
• Weak or intermittent urine flow
• Burning or painful urination
• Blood in urine or semen
• Difficulty in achieving an erection or painful ejaculations
• Frequent stiffness or pain in the lower back, upper thighs, or hips.

There are also a variety of factors that can influence the risk of developing prostate cancer, which affects one in six American men and makes it the most common type of non-skin cancer. These risk factors include:

Age. The risk rises sharply as men get older. Under age 40, the odds are roughly 1 in 10,000 to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, for men between the ages of 40 – 59, the rate increases to 1 in 38, and for men between 60 – 69, 1 in 15.

Family genetics. A man who has had a brother or father diagnosed with prostate cancer is twice as likely to develop it himself. The risk rises further if it was diagnosed in family members at an early age (younger than 55 years old) or if 3 or more family members were affected. When a prostate cancer symptom is recognized, it should be immediately investigated.

Race. African-American men are 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men, with their odds of dying from the disease more than twice that of whites. For all men in the U.S., the prostate cancer risk is about 17%. The cancer rates for Asian men living in rural Asia are the lowest (about 2%), but when they move to the Western culture, their risk goes up dramatically.

Location. Men living in cities above 40 degrees latitude (north of Columbus, OH, or Philadelphia, PA) have the highest risk of death from prostate cancer than for men anywhere else in the U.S. It is suspected that lower levels of sunlight during the wintertime reduces critical Vitamin D levels, increasing cancer risks.

There are additional risk factors that can lead to demonstrating a prostate cancer symptom and the development of aggressive prostate cancer:

• Significant lack of high-fiber vegetables (e.g., broccoli) in the diet
• High calcium consumption
• Lack of exercise due to a sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive height.

Factors and conditions that apparently don’t increase the risk of developing prostate cancer include:

• Obesity, or a high body mass index (BMI)
• Enlarged prostate (BPH)
• Prostatitis
• High levels of sexual activity
• Vasectomies
• Medications
• Alcohol