Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the US (after skin cancer) and affects around 1 in 6 men! If caught early, the rates of survival are close to 100 percent. This highlights the importance of regular prostate checkups especially in men over the age of 50.

Symptoms of prostate cancer

In the early stages, prostate cancer is asymptomatic and produces little to no symptoms. At later stages, some men may experience a few or all of the following symptoms. However, it is important to understand that these having these symptoms could be the result of other prostate conditions that need not be cancer.

• An urgent need to urinate frequently, especially at nighttime
• Difficulties to start urinating or holding back urine
• An unusually weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Pain or burning during urination
• Difficulties to have erections
• Painful ejaculations
• Evidence of blood in the urine or the semen
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower part of the back, the hips, or the upper thighs

Diagnosis of prostate cancer

Like BPH, the screening for prostate cancer is done through the digital rectal exam (DRE) which is an internal test of the prostate done through the rectum or the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Both tests are performed easily within a few minutes in the doctor's clinic.

Treatment of prostate cancer

Each patient diagnosed with prostate cancer needs different treatment since the cancer affects each person differently. Some of the most common options of treatment are surgery, radiation, hormone deprivation therapy, chemotherapy, dietary changes and herbal supplements. It is at the discretion of the doctor to decide which form of treatment is best for a particular case.