PROSTATE CANCER WHAT MEN NEED TO KNOW.

Prostate Cancer is one of the greatest health risks facing Canadian men. After lung cancer, it is the second deadliest cancer in males. It killed approximately 4,300 men in Canada last year. Despite these figures, little is known about what causes prostate cancer, or the key risk factors. The key to surviving the disease is early detection and treatment. WHAT IS THE PROSTATE? The prostate is a walnut sized gland that produces the fluid that caries sperm. It is located just below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER? The prostate often increases in size with age. If it grows large enough, it may press on the urethra, making the flow of urine weaker or slower, or causing more frequent or painful urination.

In most cases, this enlargement of the prostate and changes in urine flow are just a natural part of aging - they do not mean a man has cancer. In some cases, however, the growth in the prostate is cancerous. Prostate cancer behaves differently in different men. Some times it develops slowly and stays in the prostate with little or no symptoms. It may have no effect on how the man feels or how long he lives. In other cases, prostate cancer can be more active, spread beyond the gland into other parts of the body, and ultimately cause death.

Symptoms may include:

Frequent, difficult or painful urination Dribbling urine; Blood or pus in the urine; Pain in the lower back, pelvic area, or upper thighs; and Painful ejaculation RISK FACTORS: the incidence of prostate cancer has doubled since 1969. Approximately one in nine Canadian men will eventually develop prostate cancer, and one in 27 will die of the disease. It primarily affects men over 50. Other than age little is known about whether other factors, such as diet, heredity or fitness, increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!

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