Prostate Cancer: A Growing Killer in Nigeria

Prostate cancer, a chronic disease and most common malignancy found in men worldwide. In Nigeria, prostate cancer cases number to more than a 100,000 annually.

The big questions are:

What exactly is the prostate gland?

Where is it located in the male body?

What is its function, and why cancer?

Is prostate cancer diagnosis a death sentence?

The prostate often misspelled prostrate is a gland which secretes fluid that helps sperm cells produced stay viable and offering protection to their genetic constitution. The prostate gland is anatomically located in the groin between the base of the bladder and penis and lies in front of the rectum.

Prostate cancer results as a consequence of mutations in the DNA which cause prostate cells to grow and multiply without restriction and order. Continuous unrestrained growth births prostate enlargement and then cancer in men.

 

It is imperative to recognize the early signs of prostate enlargement which include:

A difficulty in initiating micturition (urination) that often involves straining with a weak urine stream that could start and stop while passing urine. Sufferers often experience increased frequency of urination during the day and at night, they have to get up frequently to urinate (nocturnal frequency) and this comes with an increased urge to urinate (urgency).

Prostate enlargement is often seen to progress to prostate cancer and presents with some obvious signs of trouble, which include:

Increased frequent urges to pass urine at night which is accompanied by progressive loss of bladder control. Urine is passed with more difficulty, as starting or stopping urine becomes more worrisome and the urine stream flow is markedly reduced and comes with a burning/ painful sensation. At this stage, blood is commonly found in the urine (hematuria) and semen. Men often have trouble achieving an erection, pain in the back and hips is usually experienced. This gives a lot of concern and worry and more reasons to seek medical care.

Failure to attend to issues bothering on the symptoms prostate cancer presents with, result in further growth of the cancer cells and spread of these cells to neighboring tissues and other tissues and organs farther form the prostate gland. The cancer cells are able to do this via escaping into blood and lymphatic vessels circulating the whole body system.

Prostate cancer as well as other cancers that plague humans is not a death sentence. Prostate cancer can be treated and cured when patients present early on observation of early signs and symptoms.

Are you having any concerns about your health or do you experience any of the symptoms stated in this article? Wait no longer. Seek medical care today.

 

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