All about prostate cancer
HOW DOES PROSTATE CANCER START?
Prostate cancer begins when cancer cells develop in the tissue of the prostate. As the cancer grows, tumors can form and cause symptoms. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly, and changes in cells may start many years before any symptoms show. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may already be advanced.
Symptoms
Prostate cancer can spread to the lymph nodes of the pelvis. Or it may spread throughout the body. Prostate cancer tends to spread to the bones. Bone pain, especially in the back, can be a symptom of advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages. Contact your doctor for an evaluation if you experience
- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, some- times urgently
- Difficulty starting or holding back urination
- Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Difficulty in having an erection
- A decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pressure or pain in the rectum
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs
tHE pROSTATE
Overview of the male reproductive system
Overview of the male reproductive system
Overview of the male reproductive system
The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland situated just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the upper part of the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen pass. The prostate's primary function is to produce seminal fluid, a milky substance that nourishes and transports sperm during ejaculation. This fluid, combined with sperm from the testes and fluids from other accessory glands, forms semen.
The prostate's health is of particular importance as it can be susceptible to conditions such as prostatitis, enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH), and prostate cancer.
normal vs. abnormal prostate
Overview of the male reproductive system
Overview of the male reproductive system
The prostate gland weighs about 20 to 25 grams. During an examination, signs of an abnormal prostate may involve the presence of firm areas, either concentrated in specific spots (nodules) or spread throughout. Bogginess and unevenness can also be observed. A healthy prostate feels smooth, but if it's enlarged due to conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it may be felt as a bulge. In cases of prostate cancer, the gland may feel hard and lumpy instead of the usual smooth texture associated with a healthy prostate.
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