HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessProstate Cancer: Here’s what people living with it want you to know

Prostate Cancer: Here’s what people living with it want you to know

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Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancer in men in the US. Like some other forms of cancer, prostate cancer might not cause any symptoms in its early stages.

Prostate cancer develops when cancerous cells in the prostate – a small walnut-shaped gland in males – start to multiply uncontrollably. It usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs for many years.

Jeffrey Presley, 59, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2021. Other than an enlarged prostate (common in men aged over 50) and the fact that he was peeing (a more than usual sign) a bit more than normal, He didn’t find any other warning signs. His doctor found his cancer through a routine blood test.

Advanced stages of prostate cancer include:

  • Trouble urinating
  • Weaker stream of urine
  • Blood in your urine or semen
  • Bone pain
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Erectile dysfunction

Which symptoms you have may vary, or you might have no symptoms at all.

According to experts, ff you find prostate cancer at an early stage, it’s a lot easier to treat.

Early detection, in my mind, is key. Don’t wait.

says Presley.

Whether you’re 20 or 40, go to the doctor. It’s just a matter of taking care of yourself.

67 years old, Albert Bo Smith came to know about his prostate cancer more than 7 years ago. But it was possible due to the fact that he regularly visits his doctor, his doctors may not have found his cancer.

It’s really important, as we get older, to have regular checkups with the doctors.

he says.

Thankfully, I have done that.

If your doctor notes any change, they might recommend further testing, like a biopsy. That’s when your doctor will remove a piece of your tissue to look at it closer in a lab.

According to Smith, you should your own research on prostate cancer therapies.

When you get prostate cancer, it’s really important to research the different treatments.

It used to be years back we didn’t have as many options for treatment as we do now.

Considering your quality of life before treatment is crucial. Some types of treatment may fit your needs better than others. For example, brachytherapy, which delivers radiation directly to the prostate with much lower doses in surrounding areas, may be safer than and just as effective as traditional radiation therapy.

After you find out that you have prostate cancer, you might find it helpful to get a second opinion from another doctor. After doing that himself, Smith felt like he was more in control of his cancer treatment.

That [second] doctor referred me to someone who could go over all the different possibilities. Thankfully, I had choices. I had options.

he says.

Ray Posey, age 69, encourages people to be their own support and push for the care they deserve. He thinks that a second opinion can help you to find answers that could be more useful to you.

With prostate cancer, you may feel depressed, worried, or anxious. But there are many ways you can maintain a good quality of life.

The first big message I would say is that there’s help out there.

says Smith as cited by WebMD.

Posey says that dealing with a long-term condition can sometimes be like an “emotional rollercoaster.”

At some points, you may worry about your cancer coming back, but at other moments, you may be celebrating good test results.

Additionally, relaxation classes like yoga, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy diet can help make you feel better.

And most important, If your cancer stays in your prostate, the survival rate is nearly 100%.

The overwhelming majority of men get cured of their cancer. It’s yet another reason that early detection and treatment are so important.

Image Credit: iStock

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