Can You Feel An Enlarged Prostate

Getting A Diagnosis Of Bladder Cancer Can Be A Difficult Time

If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, its treatable. Your doctor will want to discuss treatment options as well as the prognosis for bladder cancer. Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. Find the information you need today. Although the percentage of cases in men is much lower than in women, male breast cancer accounts for a por. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. The pancreas is an organ that releases enzymes involved with digestion, and hormones to regular blood sugar levels. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. The pancreas is located behind the stomach, so having pancreatic cancer doesnt involve a palpable mass that you can feel. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. But hearing the words can still be scary. There are a number of different treatments doctors recommend. Although it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in american women, breast cancer can impact people of all genders.

Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. Being armed with information is vital to begin the fight. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patients chance of survival is. Treatment for bladder cancer depends on your overall health, progression of the c. But hearing the words can still be scary.

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What Are Common Prostate Problems What Are The Warning Signs

Here are some examples of non-cancer prostate problems:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, means your prostate is enlarged but is not cancerous. It is very common in older men. An enlarged prostate may make it very difficult to urinate or cause dribbling after you urinate. You may feel the need to urinate a lot, often at night. See your family doctor for an exam. Treatments for BPH include:

• Watchful waiting is also called active surveillance. If your symptoms are not too bad, your doctor may tell you to wait before starting any treatment to see if the problem gets worse. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to return for checkups. You can start treatment later if your symptoms worsen.
• Medications. There are medicines that can help shrink the prostate or help relax muscles near your prostate to ease your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects.
• Surgery. If nothing else has worked, your doctor may suggest surgery to help urine flow. There are many types of BPH surgery. Talk with your doctor about the risks. Regular checkups are important after surgery.
• Other treatments. Sometimes radio waves, microwaves, or lasers are used to treat urinary problems caused by BPH. These methods use different kinds of heat to reduce extra prostate tissue.

What Is Active Surveillance

Active surveillance is used to monitor localized, early prostate cancer, instead of treating it straight away with surgery or radiotherapy.It involves having regular tests to keep an eye on cancer through tests like MRIs, biopsies, or PSA tests.

Treatment is only opted for if the cancer prognosis changes or cancer spreads. This helps to avoid or at least delay the side effects associated with treatments.

Although some men worry about not having the treatment and their cancer spreading, many men can easily get on with their daily lives between check-ups without any noticeable changes to their day to day routine.

This is because low grade or early prostate cancer is largely asymptomatic.

Many of the men who opt for active surveillance will not need treatment during their lifetime.

Research shows that men who undergo active surveillance have the same chance of living for 10 years or longer as men who undergo radiotherapy or surgery, but with fewer and less intense side effects.

A different study found that all treatments had worse effects on a patients quality of life than active surveillance.

40% of men who had opted for Androgen deprivation therapy experienced some form of urinary leakage, as did 33.9% of radiotherapy patients and 62% of radical prostatectomy.

However, only 12% of men who opted for active surveillance reported any urinary leakage, and this could largely be attributed to untreated BPH.

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

Contact your provider right away if you have:

• Less urine than usual
• Back, side, or abdominal pain
• Blood or pus in your urine

Also contact your provider if:

• Your bladder does not feel completely empty after you urinate.
• You take medicines that may cause urinary problems, such as diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or sedatives. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
• You have tried self-care steps for 2 months and symptoms have not improved.

So How Do You Know When To See Your Doctor

The bottom line is, that you should see a doctor for any symptoms of an enlarged prostate no matter how mild they are. This is because the severity of the symptoms doesnt always reflect the seriousness of the problem. The earlier your urologist can diagnose an enlarged prostate, the less invasive, most effective treatment options they will have available to prevent this condition from impacting your lifestyle.

Lastly, while these types of lower urinary tract symptoms are frequently symptoms of an enlarged prostate, they can also be signs of more serious conditions such as a prostate infection or prostate cancer, both of which are usually very treatable when caught early.

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How Common Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. In 2010, as many as 14 million men in the United States had lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia.1 Although benign prostatic hyperplasia rarely causes symptoms before age 40, the occurrence and symptoms increase with age. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects about 50 percent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80.2

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How Can Regen50 Help Against An Enlarged Prostate

There are many prostate supplements. REGEN50 is one of them and, due to the high quality and effective amount of ingredients, it has shown a great impact on easing the symptoms of an enlarged prostate:

• The extract of the Sabal palm helps with frequent night urination and acts as an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase, which reduces the production of DHT and prevents it from binding to the prostate.
• Pumpkin seedsextract have been used for centuries to treat and prevent bladder infections and has shown great effectiveness.
• Nettle root extract not only works against benign prostatic hyperplasia but also has anti-inflammatory properties and relieves irritation and inflammation of the urinary tract. It also helps to flush out the urinary tract.
• Pygeum extract is know for its is antibacterial and antifungal properties, which makes the ingredient an effective helper against bladder infections.
• Magnesium relaxes the muscles including the bladder muscles and weakens the need for frequent urinating. Magnesium can alleviate bladder and urinary problems and improve symptoms such as tiredness and depression.
• Vitamins C, E, and B6 have a positive effect on the immune system and have an antioxidant and antibacterial effect.

REGEN50 and REGEN50 STRONG are high-quality products made in Germany. Their unique formula containing right and effective ratio is based on numerous studies that have confirmed the effectiveness of the natural ingredients from which they are made.

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What Other Factors Contribute To Fatigue

Several other factors could contribute to fatigue, including:

• Tumor cells compete for nutrients, often at the expense of the normal cellsâ growth.
• Decreased nutrition from the side effects of treatments can also cause fatigue.
• Cancer treatments, specifically chemotherapy, can cause reduced blood counts, which may lead to anemia, a blood disorder that occurs when the blood cannot adequately transport oxygen through the body. When tissues donât get enough oxygen, fatigue can result.
• Medicines used to treat side effects such as nausea, pain, depression, anxiety, and seizures can also cause fatigue.
• Research shows that chronic, severe pain increases fatigue.
• Stress can worsen feelings of fatigue. Stress can result from dealing with the disease and the âunknowns,â as well as from worrying about daily tasks or trying to meet othersâ needs.
• Fatigue may result when you try to maintain your normal daily routines and activities during treatments. Modifying your schedule and activities can help conserve energy.
• Depression and fatigue often go hand-in-hand. It may not be clear which started first. One way to sort this out is to try to understand your depressed feelings and how they affect your life. If you are depressed all the time, were depressed before your cancer diagnosis, or are preoccupied with feeling worthless and useless, you may need treatment for depression.

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Keeping Your Prostate Healthy

Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep your body well and protect against cancer.

Maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking, exercising regularly, and having a healthy diet can all play important roles in preventing disease, including prostate cancer.

• A review of research suggests that eating red foods such as tomatoes and watermelon may reduce progression and growth of prostate cancer cells. Red foods contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene.
• Eating fruit, especially citrus fruit such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes and mandarins may also slightly lower your risk of prostate cancer, according to some studies.
• Coffee and green tea may also lower cancer risk, but more studies need to be done to confirm this.
• A review of research done in 2014 indicated there may be a link between saturated fats and animal fats and prostate cancer risk, so it may pay to reduce intake of these types of fats.

For some ideas about looking after your health at all ages, read through the Queensland Governments guide to good health for men: Mens health through the decades.

And one last thing you may have heard that too frequent masturbation can cause prostate cancer. Its been studied, and so far there have been no links found between masturbating or having sex too often and prostate cancer. If anything, the effect may be the opposite, but more research is needed to know how and why.

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How Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treated

Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia may include

• lifestyle changes
• minimally invasive procedures

A health care provider treats benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the severity of symptoms, how much the symptoms affect a mans daily life, and a mans preferences.

Men may not need treatment for a mildly enlarged prostate unless their symptoms are bothersome and affecting their quality of life. In these cases, instead of treatment, a urologist may recommend regular checkups. If benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms become bothersome or present a health risk, a urologist most often recommends treatment.

Medications For Enlarged Prostate

There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors

• Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.

• Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostate’s size, eliminating blockage.

Dont be surprised if your physician prescribes a combination of the two medications, as they have been shown to work more effectively together than alone. The downside is that combination therapy may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from the medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to assess the benefits and costs before starting on combination therapy.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. These problems may occur as the disease progresses:

• Frequent, sometimes urgent, need to urinate, especially at night.
• Weak urine flow or flow that starts and stops.
• Painful urination .
• Lower back pain, hip pain and chest pain.
• Leg or feet numbness.

How Do You Know If Your Prostate Is Infected

How is prostatitis diagnosed?

Digital rectal exam: Your provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check the prostate gland for pain and swelling.

Urinalysis: A urinalysis and urine culture check for bacteria and UTIs.

Blood test: A blood test measures PSA, a protein made by the prostate gland.

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Signs Of Prostate Cancer Your Doctor Can Assess

Your doctor can tell a lot about your prostate by the way that it feels.

The back wall of your prostate is very close to your rectum. If your doctor inserts a finger into your rectum, he can feel the back and sides of your prostate through the thin, soft wall of the rectum. This examination of the prostate is called a digital rectal examination .

The DRE is used to detect possible signs of prostate illness:

• A DRE that finds a smooth, soft prostate but that causes intense pain is commonly a sign of prostate infection, also known as prostatitis.
• A DRE that finds a smooth, rubbery, and enlarged prostate is commonly a sign of prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostate hyperplasia.
• A DRE that finds hard nodules, generalized firmness, or an unusual shape to the prostate is commonly a sign of prostate cancer.

DRE can be used to raise suspicion of prostate cancer. DRE can not be used to rule out prostate cancer.

Many prostate cancers produce no physical signs that can be felt by DRE. In other words, a normal DRE is not a sign that there is no prostate cancer.

It is also well known that if different doctors carry out a DRE on the same patient , they may come to different decisions about what they think they feel.

Figure 1: How the DRE is carried out.

Content on this page last reviewed and updated April 5, 2008.

Questions You May Want To Consider Asking Your Doctor Include:

• What type of prostate problem do I have?
• Is more testing needed and what will it tell me?
• If I decide on watchful waiting, what changes in my symptoms should I look for and how often should I be tested?
• What type of treatment do you recommend for my prostate problem?
• For men like me, has this treatment worked?
• How soon would I need to start treatment and how long would it last?
• Do I need medicine and how long would I need to take it before seeing improvement in my symptoms?
• What are the side effects of the medicine?
• Are there other medicines that could interfere with this medication?
• If I need surgery, what are the benefits and risks?
• Would I have any side effects from surgery that could affect my quality of life?
• Are these side effects temporary or permanent?
• How long is recovery time after surgery?
• Will I be able to fully return to normal?
• How will this affect my sex life?
• How often should I visit the doctor to monitor my condition?

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What Are The Symptoms

An enlarged prostate is the most common cause of urinary problems in men as they get older. Possible symptoms include:

• a weak flow when you urinate
• a feeling that your bladder hasnt emptied properly
• difficulty starting to urinate
• dribbling urine after you finish urinating
• needing to urinate more often, especially at night
• a sudden urge to urinate you may sometimes leak before you get to the toilet.

You may not get all of these symptoms, and some men with an enlarged prostate dont get any symptoms at all. These symptoms can also be caused by other things, such as cold weather, anxiety, other health problems, lifestyle factors, and some medicines. If you have any symptoms, visit your GP to find out what may be causing them.

Blood in your urine may be a symptom of an enlarged prostate. But this is rare and is usually caused by something else. Tell your doctor if you have blood in your urine.

What Are Enlarged Prostate Treatments

There are a wide variety of strategies for getting that prostate gland back to normal, according to Dr. Ramin. In less severe cases, he notes, it may be enough to limit coffee, tea, and sodacaffeine can stimulate the bladder and increase urinary frequency, which might be putting stress on the prostate.

In slightly more advanced situations, medications like alpha blockerswhich relax muscles in your bladder and prostate to make peeing easier, and alpha reductase inhibitors, which can shrink prostate growth, may be needed.

There are also minimally invasive treatment options like microwave therapy, Dr. Ramin says. In other cases, you may need to undergo resection of the prostate through laser therapy.

For markedly enlarged prostates, patients may need a robotic subtotal prostatectomy procedure.

The best treatment option really depends on a particular patients symptoms and results of testing, says Dr. Ramin. Not every patient with enlarged prostate is created equal, and not every treatment option is a good option for all patients.

So talk to your doctor about whats right for you. Just dont ignore the issue: Untreated enlarged prostate can lead to issues like incontinence, blood in your urinedue to inflammation from straining to peeand eventually, youre at risk for kidney damage, says Dr. Ramin.

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Does Having Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Increase The Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Based on research to date, having BPH does not seem to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, BPH and prostate cancer have similar symptoms, and a man who has BPH may have undetected cancer at the same time.

To help detect prostate cancer in its early stages, the American Urological Association and the American Cancer Society recommend a prostate screening every year for men ages 55 to 69. They also recommend that men who are at high risk such as African-American men and men who have a family history of prostate cancer begin screening at age 40. Screening tests for prostate cancer include a blood test for a substance called prostate-specific antigen and the digital rectal exam .