Arrr, matey! Swab the deck and listen well! Prostate cancer be a scurvy disease with symptoms and cures aplenty!
2023-09-19
Arrr! 'Tis September, mateys! Be aware, me hearties, 'tis the month of National Prostate Cancer Awareness. This scurvy disease be plaguin' many a man, yet the signs be so mild, ye might not even notice 'em. Keep a weather eye, lest ye be caught unawares!
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men, second only to skin cancer. However, symptoms of prostate cancer are usually minimal or not experienced at all. The good news is that prostate cancer is treatable when caught early, with a near 100% five-year survival rate for cancers that haven't spread beyond the prostate. But when the disease spreads to distant parts of the body, the survival rate drops to 32% in stage IV cancer cases. Prostate cancer starts when cells grow out of control in the prostate gland and can then grow beyond that in more severe cases. The most common type of prostate cancer is adenocarcinomas, which develop in the gland cells. Other types are rare, including small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, transitional cell carcinomas, and sarcomas. Prostate cancer typically grows very slowly, and many people who have it die from other causes without ever knowing they had the cancer. Symptoms are usually absent, but some men may experience pain in the bones and weight loss when the cancer has already spread. Men ages 60 to 74 are considered more at risk, especially those with a family history of prostate cancer. African, Afro-Caribbean, South Asian, and Hispanic men are more at risk for aggressive forms of the disease. PSA screening is a controversial topic, with recommendations varying depending on age and individual risk factors. While PSA screening has the potential to reduce the risk of death, there are also potential negatives such as false-positive results and treatment complications. Ultimately, the decision to undergo screening should be made in consultation with a physician. Prostate cancer is curable, but many men choose not to treat it due to its slow progression and localized nature. In more severe cases, radiation or surgery may be necessary.