The type of cancer that occurs in the prostate is referred to as prostate cancer. The prostate is a small gland found in the male body which is responsible for producing the seminal fluid. This type of cancer is among the most common types of cancers found in men. Treatment options for prostate cancer include surgery and medications such as xtandi, relugolix, erleada, lupron, and enzalutamide. Here’s everything you need to know about the signs and causes of prostate cancer.
Signs of prostate cancer
Learning about the signs and causes of prostate cancer can give a lot of insight into the condition and help you prevent and treat it more effectively. Using screening methods, most prostate cancers are detected early. When its initial stages, prostate cancer does not cause any symptoms. But as it reaches a more advanced stage, it can cause symptoms which can include the following:
- Urination problems
People with prostate cancer experience problems with urination. This can include a slow or weak stream of urine. It can also lead to frequent urges to urinate, especially during the night.
- Presence of blood in the urine
Another symptom of prostate cancer is the presence of blood in the urine or semen.
- Erectile dysfunction
Although there are several other reasons behind erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer can also lead to problems with having an erection.
- Pain
Prostate cancer can also cause pain in various parts of the body, such as the back, the hips, or the chest.
- Weakness
Another symptom of prostate cancer is experiencing weakness or numbness in the feet or the legs. In some cases, people can also lose control over their bladder when cancer presses the spinal cord.
These symptoms are extremely likely to be caused by some other condition also. Like, problems with urination can be caused due to benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. These are growths in the prostate that cause problems with urination and are noncancerous. Therefore, to be sure that there is nothing serious causing these symptoms, you must consult a doctor.
Causes of prostate cancer
The exact cause of prostate cancer is yet to be known by the researchers. However, several risk factors have been identified to have a link with the condition. Researches are being done to find out how these risk factors lead to the development of cancer cells.
To put it simply, prostate cancer is caused when there are any changes in the DNA of the normal prostate cells. DNA is the chemical found in the cells that make the genes control the functioning of the cells. The genes are responsible for the growth, division, death of the cells. When there is a mutation in the DNA, the entire process of cell production and destruction can get affected. The cancerous cells can start multiplying abnormally and eventually outnumber the healthy cells.
