Prostate

Icon for Prostate

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that sits underneath a man’s bladder and wraps around the urethra. Prostate problems include infection, enlargement or cancer, but solutions and survival rates are improving.

The prostate gland’s main function is to add fluid to sperm to form semen. Although the prostate starts out small, it typically grows as a man ages. Prostate growth is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Over time, BPH puts pressure on the urethra, leading to urinary problems.

Prostatitis is swelling of the prostate gland that is often caused by bacteria. The condition can come on quickly (acute prostatitis) and usually clears up with antibiotics. However, it can sometimes continue long term, in which case it’s called chronic prostatitis.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, affecting 1 in 7 during their lifetime. Most prostate cancer cases are diagnosed later in life.

Prostate cancer can be found with a PSA test, which measures the level of a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood. At one time, men over age 50 were advised to have a PSA test annually. Yet this test can often produce false positive results, because PSA levels can also rise from BPH and other non-cancerous prostate conditions. Today, cancer organizations recommend that men talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks before having this test.

Prostate cancer symptoms include trouble urinating, blood in the urine, pain in the back or hips, and difficulty getting or sustaining an erection. To diagnose prostate cancer, the doctor will remove a sample of tissue during a biopsy. Once that tissue is examined, doctors assign the prostate cancer a Gleason Score and a stage, which indicate the severity and progression of the disease.

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Illustration of prostate

Prostatitis Symptoms: What You Should Know

· · Prostate
Prostatitis refers to one of a number of conditions in which the prostate becomes inflamed. Men of any age can be affected by prostatitis symptoms, but it is more common in men who are 50 or younger. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has divided prostatitis into four categories: acute … Read More
Illustration of prostate

Prostate Gland Cancer: Testing and Diagnosis

· · Prostate
If your doctor has determined that you’re experiencing prostate cancer symptoms and that your otherwise normal PSA levels are elevated, he likely will order a biopsy of tissue from the prostate gland. Your doctor may elect to biopsy your prostate based on whether or not you have possible symptoms of … Read More
illustration of the prostate organ

What Is Prostate Cancer?

· · Prostate
The vast majority of prostate cancers originate in the glandular cells of the prostate and are called adenocarcinomas. Prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common cancer seen in men in the United States. While most men do not die from prostate cancer, it is the … Read More
Illustration of male symbol made from pills

Erectile Dysfunction Causes and Cures

· · Prostate
Erectile dysfunction causes can be attributed to many diseases and medical conditions known to cause ED. The first step treatment is ensuring that you are appropriately treating any underlying medical disease causing your ED. For example, if you have diabetes, managing your blood glucose levels is not only critical for … Read More
Doctor and patient

Prostate Cancer Therapies: Surgical Options

· · Prostate
Surgery for prostate cancer is a common treatment choice for men who are in good overall health and who have early stage prostate cancer. This would include men whose prostate cancer is localized to the prostate (stage T1 or T2 cancers) or to the prostate and seminal vesicles (stage T3 … Read More

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