How Do I Screen For Prostate Cancer
There are two main early stage screening methods a digital rectal exam , and a blood test measuring PSA levels. PSA screening is regarded as the best method to screen for prostate cancer in men over 40 or those of a certain risk factor.
While men might be intimidated by a DRE, itâs a quick and safe screening technique used by a physician, and should cause no significant pain.
A Digital Rectal Exam is a simple, painless and quick procedure. A physician inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the prostate to identify if the prostate is enlarged, has lumps or is an abnormal texture compared to a healthy example.
Although this procedure is a very clear indicator of prostate health, the entire prostate canât be examined during a DRE. This is why physicians will also take into account PSA blood work, health history, and other risk factors. Overall, itâs often difficult to detect prostate cancer early, itâs mostly found through PSA testing – so PSA screenings should be done regularly, starting at the age of 40-50.
Okay Exactly What And Where Is The Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-size gland nestled deep inside the male pelvis, and it helps produce semen and nourish it with important substances, Hong, M.D., a urologist in Phoenix, tells SELF. Cisgender women dont have prostates. But for the folks who do have them, the prostate is made up of tissue known as stroma, secretory glands that produce semen ingredients, and muscle fibers. Its located right in front of the bladderthe ducts in the prostate gland actually flow into the urethra, which is why prostate issues can affect urinary function. For example, if someone has an enlarged prostate , they might find that they have a more frequent urge to pee, among other symptoms, the Mayo Clinic explains.
Does A Dre Always Detect Prostate Abnormalities
A digital rectal examination allows a doctor to feel only the back wall of the prostate gland, so any abnormalities located in the middle or front part of the gland cannot be felt. For this reason, the DRE is performed in conjunction with PSA testing. Although the PSA test can detect many cancers which doctors cannot feel during a DRE, it has also been shown that DREs detect some cancers which are not associated with an elevated level of PSA in the bloodstream.
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What Are We Looking For
Many men experience issues with their prostate gland as they age. The symptoms for benign prostate enlargement and prostate cancer are very similar most men present first with urinary issues. When your prostate has simply enlarged the surface is usually smooth. We begin to suspect prostate cancer when the surface is hard and lumpy. Its a key difference and the best way to find out is via a rectal exam.
Who Should Get A Digital Rectal Exam
Not all medical institutions agree on when men should begin screening for prostate cancer or even if a DRE should be part of the screening.
To help detect prostate cancer in its early stages, the American Cancer Society recommends that men talk to their doctors about the benefits, risks, and limitations of prostate cancer screening before deciding whether to be tested.
For most men at average risk, discussions about screening begin at age 50. However, some doctors recommend that men at higher risk of prostate cancer — African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer — start screening earlier.
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What To Avoid And List Of Helpful Foods
As diet has to play major role for prostate cancer pain relief so it is better to collect huge information about what is good to eat and what should be avoided during prostate pain.
Medical professionals suggest avoiding red meats if you are facing prostate pain due to cancer. However, patient can eat other lean meats such as fish and fowl. Also, it is good to avoid fatty food items and the biggest harm can be caused by processed or fast food items so it is good to take them away from your diet.
The list of helpful food items includes grains prefer to add whole grains and rice etc into your routine diet. Other than this, it is essential to include green leafy vegetables, acidic fruits, berries and beans into routine diet to improve overall health of your body.
Locating The Prostate Externally
Once youre feeling frisky, press deeply in the area between the testicles and the anus, and try to find a lump thats about the size of a walnut but feels softer.
If you cant find it, no worries not everyone can feel it externally. Its still possible to stimulate the prostate with pressure on the perineum, although there are no guarantees that it will lead to an orgasm.
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You Can Spot Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Worrying prostate symptoms to look out for include needing to urinate more during the night, dribbling before or after urinating, and a weak urine flow. Less common symptoms include pain in the testicles, problems getting an erection, pain when ejaculating, pain when passing urine and blood in the urine.
Worrying prostate symptoms to look out for include needing to urinate more during the night.
Prostate cancer doesn’t always affect the urinary stream until the disease is advanced, so urine flow isn’t a reliable indicator on its own. There are a variety of reasons for a change in the pressure of urine flow, such as a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitisâ inflammation or infection of the prostate. If your once normal urine stream has dwindled to a trickle, visit your GP.
How Do You Feel Your Own Prostate
Are you trying to feel it for pleasure or because you’reconcerned about a swollen prostate?
If you’re worried – don’t try to self-diagnose yourself – youhave nothing to compare your prostate size to. Your family doctorcan do a rectal exam – it doesn’t hurt, and only takes a couple ofseconds.
If you’re just interested in feeling your prostate – lie on yourback, stick your finger in your rectum and feel the “roof” or topof the rectal cavity. In other words you’ll be curving you fingerup toward the groin.
It might feel good, or it might now – neither means anything iswrong.
While on your back, you get a better reach inside by raisingyour knees up to your chest. You want to feel for any change intexture or shape. It should feel the same everywhere.
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Why Can Stimulating The Prostate Feel So Good
The anus and its surrounding area are packed with nerve endings, Hong explains. Thats precisely why anal play can feel so amazing whether or not you have a prostate. Dr. Hong also notes that the prostate has plenty of blood vessels that swell with increased blood flow. The extra blood helps make the area more sensitive, which can boost pleasure.
Even though the anus is surrounded by nerve endings, its also surrounded by stigma. The human body is amazing in that parts like the vagina and anus have natural functions but can also be sites of intense pleasure. Trying out different sex-related acts is normal, and discovering new ways to experience pleasure is always a good idea.
Exercise Can Impact Prostate Health
Keeping active helps to balance hormone levels, prevent obesity and boost the immune system. Regular exercise helps to reduce your risk of many types of cancer and some studies show that it might have an effect in reducing prostate cancer risk too.
And it’s never too late – studies have shown that exercise is still beneficial for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are receiving treatment for it.
Aim for 150 minutes per week of exercise that makes you feel a bit out of breath. Don’t worry if you can’t manage this though, even small amounts can make a difference to your health. Brisk walking is enough, just gradually build up the time you spend doing it. You should also try to avoid sitting for long periods of time too.
: 29-01-2020
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What Does This Exam Feel Like
A digital rectal exam is uncomfortable. You may feel the urge to have a bowel movement in the process of the examination, but not to worry!
This is considered a normal sensation, and you wont actually have one. Similarly, you may feel the urge to urinate during palpation of the prostate gland. But chances are you dont actually need to urinate.
What About Other Treatments I Hear About
When you have cancer you might hear about other ways to treat the cancer or treat your symptoms. These may not always be standard medical treatments. These treatments may be vitamins, herbs, special diets, and other things. You may wonder about these treatments.
Some of these are known to help, but many have not been tested. Some have been shown not to help. A few have even been found to be harmful. Talk to your doctor about anything youre thinking about using, whether its a vitamin, a diet, or anything else.
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How Do You Achieve A Prostate Orgasm
As with any new sexual activity, learning how to have a prostate orgasm takes preparation and practice. Here are some expert-approved tips, techniques, and other important things to know.
Learn where your prostate is.
If youre new to anal play, the first step is finding your prostate. The walnut-sized gland is located underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum, and you can stimulate it by putting fingers or toys about three inches into your butt.
Try it on your own first.
Kenneth Play, sex educator and creator of the Sex Hacker Pro Series, suggests experimenting with yourself before trying with your partner. I recommend masturbation rather than partner play to start this exploration because you have a direct feedback loop,” he says. “Without having to instruct someone else or worry about being comfortable, things are much simpler and more effective.”
Know that there are two ways to achieve a prostate orgasm: through internal and external stimulation.
Now, we know you might be scratching your head in confusion, wondering how there can be an external prostate orgasm when the prostate is located inside your anus. But heres a quick bio lesson: an external prostate orgasm is when you stimulate your prostate externally, by applying pressure between your anus and your testicles, Saynt explains . No insertion required.
Internal orgasms, on the other hand, involve massaging your prostate .
Massage your perineum.
If you’re going up the butt, clean out beforehand.
What Does A Prostate Orgasm Feel Like
P-spot orgasms are said to feel similar to penile orgasms, only way more intense and felt through the entire body.
There are reports of people having super orgasms, which are a stream of fast, continuous orgasms that cause the body to shudder.
Not everyone ejaculates during a prostate orgasm, but some release a dribble of milky fluid from the urethra.
A little bit of prep can help make the experience a good one whether youre flying solo, or on the giving or receiving end of things.
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What Does A Dre Involve
You might have a DRE at your GP surgery or at the hospital.
The doctor or nurse will ask you to lie on your side on an examination table, with your knees brought up towards your chest. They will slide a finger gently into your back passage. Theyll wear gloves and put some gel on their finger to make it more comfortable.
You may find the DRE slightly uncomfortable or embarrassing, but the test isnt usually painful and it doesnt take long.
What Do The Numbers Mean
PSA levels are measured as a number of nanograms in each milliliter of fluid tested. This is written as ng/mL.
- PSA level 2.5 ng/mL or lower: This is a normal PSA level for men under age 60, but in some cases, prostate cancer may still be present.
- PSA level between 2.5 and 4 ng/mL: This is a normal PSA level for most men.
- PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL: This indicates that prostate cancer might be present. At this level, there is about a 25% chance that you have prostate cancer.
- PSA level 10 ng/mL or above: There is a 50 percent chance that prostate cancer is present. The higher the PSA rises above 10 ng/mL, the greater the chance that you have prostate cancer.
Your doctor may also monitor your PSA velocity, or doubling time, which means recording your baseline PSA the level at your very first PSA test and seeing how fast the PSA level increases over time. Rapid increases in PSA readings can suggest cancer. If your PSA is slightly high, you and your doctor may decide to keep an eye on your levels on a regular basis to look for any change in the PSA velocity.
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It Can Be A Vaginal Orgasm
Although few people are able to climax with vaginal stimulation alone, it sure can be fun trying!
If youre able to make it happen, prepare for an intense climax that can be felt deep inside your body.
The front vaginal wall is also home to the anterior fornix, or A-spot.
Older research suggests that stimulating the A-spot can result in intense lubrication and even orgasm.
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Of : Deciding If You Need A Prostate Screening
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The Benefits Of Prostate Massage
The overriding benefit of prostate massage is that it is both healthy and pleasurable. There are very few things you can say that about! Massaging of the prostate gland can release the build up of toxins in the prostate ducts, and can heal illnesses and prevent them. This is why this practice is always recommended for men by both doctors and prostate massage advocates.
Prostate massage can also produce a highly pleasurable sensation, which is why some men practice prostate massage for personal sexual pleasure.
Obesity Affects Prostate Cancer
There is also a clear link between obesity and cancerâ putting on those extra cuddly pounds around your waist can double your cancer risk.
Scientists in Boston found that maintaining a healthy weight and diet helps cancer sufferers live longer. Results of the trial, involving over 900 men, showed that overweight men with prostate cancer doubled their risk of death in the five years after the study, compared to men who maintained a healthy weight.
Try to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. It is best to lose weight slowly, just one or two pounds a week. Make small changes to your diet every day such as swapping sweet treats for crunchy vegetables. Small changes soon add up. Ask your practice nurse or GP for help with losing weight if you are finding it difficult.
There is a clear link between obesity and cancer and extra pounds around your waist can double your cancer risk.
Alcohol intake is linked to certain types of cancer but it’s not known yet if there’s any link with prostate cancer.
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Benefits Of Screening In Studies Have Not Been Clear
Doctors are still studying if screening tests will lower the risk of death from prostate cancer. The most recent results from 2 large studies were conflicting, and didnt offer clear answers.
- Early results from a large study done in the United States found that annual screening with PSA and DRE did detect more prostate cancers than in men not screened, but this screening did not lower the death rate from prostate cancer. However, questions have been raised about this study, because some men in the non-screening group actually were screened during the study, which might have affected the results.
- A European study did find a lower risk of death from prostate cancer with PSA screening , but the researchers estimated that about 781 men would need to be screened to prevent one death from prostate cancer.
- Neither of these studies has shown that PSA screening helps men live longer overall .
Prostate cancer is often slow-growing, so the effects of screening in these studies might become clearer in the coming years. Both of these studies are being continued to see if longer follow-up will give clearer results. Prostate cancer screening is being studied in several other large studies, as well.
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