| Did you know that prostate cancer is the | | | | seconds. My message is: Your health is at |
| greatest killer of men in industrialized | | | | stake here so get over it and have the test! |
| nations? The sad truth is 90% of men develop | | | | |
| some type of prostate problem by the age of | | | | A general enlargement might indicate BPH. |
| 60. | | | | Some enlargement plus bumps or sponginess is |
| | | | often a sign of prostatitis. This is an |
| Yet many have a cavalier attitude to prostate | | | | infection and inflammation of the prostate |
| health. They think it can't happen to them | | | | which can show up in the form urinary |
| and they dismiss the warning signs and | | | | complaints, burning, itching and unusual |
| symptoms as a nuisance which will go away. | | | | discharge from the penis. |
| Sadly, unless treated, they won't go away. | | | | |
| | | | A rock hard prostate can indicate cancer. If |
| So what are the warning signs of potential | | | | any irregularities are found, your doctor |
| prostate problems, what tests can you have | | | | usually calls for more tests. |
| and what can you do to protect your prostate? | | | | |
| | | | A healthy prostate will not feel painful when |
| WHAT IS THE PROSTATE? | | | | pressed on. This test can detect disease |
| | | | early and spare you from illness, debility |
| Both a sex gland and a muscle, your prostate | | | | and more unpleasant medical procedures. |
| is located just below the bladder and in | | | | |
| front of the rectum. Its lobes wrap around | | | | The second test is a Prostate Specific |
| tubing, called the urethra, which carries | | | | Antigen [PSA] blood test. |
| urine out through the penis. In a young man | | | | |
| the prostate is walnut sized. Later in life | | | | PSA is a protein that is present in blood |
| it typically grows larger. | | | | samples and it is thought to be produced in |
| | | | the prostate. PSA numbers seem to rise when |
| One of its main jobs is to produce secretions | | | | infection and inflammation are present in the |
| that eventually nourish sperm. Its other | | | | prostate gland. As with DRE, all men should |
| function is as a muscle involved in the | | | | have their first test at age 40 and then |
| process of ejaculation. | | | | annually beginning at age 45. |
| | | | |
| As a man ages, the gland can increase in size | | | | The PSA test has been quite controversial, |
| over time and press against the urethra to | | | | because results are not always consistent |
| the extent that his ability to urinate and | | | | with the absence or presence of prostate |
| empty the bladder can be affected. This | | | | problems. |
| effect is known as BPH or benign prostatic | | | | |
| hyperplasia. | | | | A reading of 4.0 or below is considered safe. |
| | | | Above that figure is not a good sign and a |
| WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BPH? | | | | score of 10.0 or higher is considered |
| | | | dangerous. A possible indication of cancer |
| The most common signs are nocturnia [getting | | | | beyond the prostate. These figures can change |
| up several times a night to urinate], weak | | | | each year, so don't be complacent if your |
| urine stream and a feeling of incomplete | | | | score is 4.0 or below at present. Continue to |
| emptying of the bladder. A man can also | | | | have your annual test. |
| suffer from dribbling before and after | | | | |
| urination, frequent daytime urination and | | | | When you have your annual PSA test, it is a |
| increased urgency. | | | | good idea to ask your doctor to check your |
| | | | blood ALBUMIN level. This is recommended by |
| WHAT TESTS CAN YOU HAVE? | | | | Dr Larry Clapp, author of "Prostate Health in |
| | | | 90 Days without Drugs or Surgery." Albumin |
| There are 2 main tests that you can have. | | | | protects tissues from free radical damage |
| | | | [cellular damage that can progress to |
| The first is a Digital Rectal Exam or DRE. | | | | cancer]. Healthy people tend to have high |
| During the exam, your doctor places his | | | | albumin levels. When you are sick and your |
| gloved index finger into your rectum to | | | | immune system is under stress, your albumin |
| evaluate the condition of your prostate. | | | | level usually drops. |
| While many men dread this procedure, a DRE is | | | | |
| a must for any man at risk for prostate | | | | Never start a new treatment before consulting |
| problems and should be performed during an | | | | your doctor, especially if you are currently |
| annual physical exam for men over 40. I am | | | | taking medication. The information published |
| aged 68 and have this test as a part of my | | | | in this article is not intended as a |
| annual physical check up. | | | | substitute for personal medical advice from |
| | | | your physician or other qualified healthcare |
| You may feel uncomfortable the first time but | | | | practitioner. It is for information purposes |
| it is a very simple procedure, taking only | | | | only. |