Prostate Cancer and the Causes

What Is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland that sits just below a man’s bladder. One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in in their lifetimes. It’s the second most common cancer in the United States, and each year almost 30,000 men die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

1) Age

Age is considered as the primary risk factor. The older a man is, the higher is his risk. Prostate cancer is rare among men under the age of 45, but much more common after the age of 50.

When you grow older, the higher chance to get it

2) Genetics

Statistics indicate that genetics is definitely a factor in prostate cancer risk. It is more common among certain racial groups - in the USA prostate cancer is significantly more common and also more deadly among Afro-Americans than White-Americans. A man has a much higher risk of developing cancer if his identical twin has it. A man whose brother or father had/had prostate cancer runs twice the risk of developing it, compared to other men.

It runs in your gene

3) Diet

A review of diets indicated that the Mediterranean diet may reduce a person's chances of developing prostate cancer.Another study indicates that soy, selenium and green tea, offer additional possibilities for disease prevention - However, a more recent study indicated that combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostate cancer. A diet high in vegetable consumption was found in a study to be beneficial.

Mediterranean diet is good for prostate

4) Medication

Some studies say there might be a link between the daily use of anti-inflammatory medicines and prostate cancer risk. A study found that statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels, may lower a person's risk of developing prostate cancer.

Statins for prostate

5) Obesity

A study found a clear link between obesity and raised prostate cancer risk, as well as a higher risk of metastasis and death among obese people who develop prostate cancer.

Obesity

6) Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Men who have had gonorrhea have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer, according to research from the University of Michigan Health System.

STDs increase the risk factor

What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

The most common symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• trouble urinating
• increased frequency of urination
• decreased force when urinating
• blood in the urine and semen
• swelling in the legs
• discomfort in the pelvis or rectal region
• pain with ejaculation

Prostate cancer can develop for months or years before it begins causing symptoms for some men.

Painful urination

How Do Doctors Screen for Prostate Cancer?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings detect the amount of PSA in the blood. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland, and its level can be measured through a simple blood test. When the gland is affected by cancer, infection, inflammation, or enlargement, it releases higher than normal levels of the enzyme.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is important

As part of a regular physical, doctors may begin performing a digital rectal exam (DRE) on men around the age of 50 or in those with risk factors for the cancer. An ultrasound may be needed to check for the presence of a tumor.

Digital rectal exam (DRE)

Health care professionals and doctors differ in their thoughts about who should have regular PSA screenings. Some men may receive a false-positive result and choose to have treatment that might not be necessary. It’s important to note that an increased PSA level isn’t always a sign of cancer. It can indicate an infection, inflammation, or enlargement, too. Before undergoing a PSA test, you should consult with your doctor about your risks and make your decision accordingly.

Don't be shy, consult with your doctor

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Healthy Living: Stopping Bleeding for Emergency

Injuries and certain medical conditions can result in bleeding. This can trigger anxiety and fear, but bleeding has a healing purpose. Still, you need to understand how to treat common bleeding incidents, like cuts and bloody noses, as well as when to seek medical help.

*How to Treat Cuts and Wounds

When your skin is cut or scraped, you begin to bleed. This is because blood vessels in the area are damaged. Bleeding serves a useful purpose because it helps to clean out a wound. But too much bleeding can cause your body to go into shock. 

You cannot always judge the seriousness of a cut or wound by the amount it bleeds. Some serious injuries can bleed very little. On the other hand, cuts on the head, face, and mouth may bleed a lot because there are a lot of blood vessels in those areas.

Abdominal and chest wounds can be quite serious because internal organs may be damaged, which can cause internal bleeding and even shock. Abdominal and chest wounds are considered an emergency, and you should call for immediate medical help, especially if there are symptoms of shock, such as dizziness, weakness, pale and clammy skin, shortness of breath, and increased heart rate.

While waiting for medical care, give first aid treatment for shock. Have the injured person lie quietly with his or her feet elevated about 12 inches. Cover him or her with a blanket to maintain body warmth.

First Aid for Cuts and Wounds

1. Help the person to remain calm. 
2. If the cut is large or bleeding heavily, have them lie down. 
3. If the wound is on an arm or leg, raise the limb above the heart to slow bleeding.
4. Remove obvious debris from the wound, such as sticks or grass. If the object is embedded in the body, do NOT remove it.
5. If the cut is small, wash it out with soap and water. Do NOT clean a large wound.
6. After putting on clean latex gloves, apply firm pressure to the wound with a folded cloth or bandage for about 10 minutes. 
7. Do not remove the bandage to look at the wound during this time, as it may begin bleeding again. If blood soaks through, add another cloth or bandage and continue holding pressure on the cut for an additional 10 minutes.
8. When bleeding has stopped, tape a clean bandage over the cut.

Seek medical care for a cut or wound if:

• it’s jagged or deep, or if it is a puncture wound.
• it’s on the face
• it’s the result of an animal bite
• there is dirt that won’t come out after washing
• the bleeding will not stop

*How to Stop Bloody Nose

A bloody nose is common in both children and adults. Most nosebleeds are not serious, especially in children. Yet, adults can have nosebleeds related to high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries, and it may be more difficult to stop them.

First Aid for a Nosebleed

1. Have the person sit down and lean his or her head forward. This will reduce pressure in the nasal veins and slow the bleeding.
2. Have them push the bleeding nostril firmly against the septum (the dividing wall in the nose). 
3. If the person is unable to do this, put on latex gloves and hold the nose for him or her for five to 10 minutes.
4. Once the nose stops bleeding, instruct the person not to blow his or her nose for several days. This could dislodge the clot and cause bleeding to begin again.

Seek medical help for a nosebleed if:

• bleeding does not stop after about 20 minutes
• the nosebleed is related to a fall or injury in which case the nose may have been broken

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