There are some signs of prostate cancer to look for as you take care of your health and work to prevent serious problems. Most men will show some symptoms of prostate cancer before their doctor gives them an official diagnosis. Knowing what to look for can help you determine if you need to contact your doctor and have your prostate health tested.
symptoms of prostate cancer
If you have prostate cancer, you may have some incontinence problems. Since the prostate is below the bladder, it is responsible for helping the bladder to release urine using the urethra. When you have prostate problems, it is common for this glans to swell or enlarge, making it painful to urinate or you end up having involuntary loss of urine. When the prostate is swollen and urine is more difficult to pass, it will cause urge incontinence (the sudden need to urinate). Other people report that they feel the need to get up and urinate several times during the night or feel that they need to urinate more often.
Although an enlarged prostate is the main indication that you may have prostate cancer, there are other symptoms to look out for, such as blood in your urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, bladder control problems, and pain in your throat. lower back or hips.
What will my doctor check?
To find out if you have prostate cancer, your doctor will look at the various symptoms you’ve been struggling with. They will then need to examine your prostate and will also do some urine and other laboratory tests. If you have had a loved one who had prostate cancer or prostate health problems, you should make sure they get them checked out, as you are at increased risk of prostate cancer. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is used to help your doctor find out if you have prostate cancer or not. This is a blood test that will look for a specific antigen and, in some cases, detect prostate health problems before you start to have any of the common symptoms of prostate cancer.
Treatments to consider
Depending on your age, your doctor may not recommend that you have surgery or chemotherapy and instead opt for active surveillance. This is common for older men who probably won’t be able to recover well from surgery as their bodies are not healthy. When he is monitoring your condition, he will look for signs that the cancer is growing or changes in the health of your prostate. You may notice an increase in your incontinence episodes, which will require the help of some incontinence products, such as adult diapers, to help you manage your condition. For many men with prostate cancer, it is a slow-growing form of cancer. Therefore, using active surveillance is the best route to avoid having to deal with costly surgeries and other treatments that could end up shortening your lifespan.
Surgery is common for younger patients who are in good health. It is an invasive surgery that can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months before you recover. You will likely have to deal with incontinence after surgery, as you usually need to wear a catheter for a few weeks after surgery. Wearing adult diapers can help capture urine that leaks from the body. There are other male incontinence products to choose from that will make it easier for you to manage your incontinence problems after surgery.