Prostate Cancer: Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of prostate cancer is complex and not fully understood. We do know that the glandular tissue of the prostate is prone to genetic mutations that may be triggered by a variety of factors. In many men, the disease seems to be random, and the cause remains unknown. The … Read More

PSA Screening Benefits, Disadvantages and Guidelines

As is the case with most cancers, the earlier prostate cancer is detected, the greater the odds of a cure. Proponents argue that a PSA screening is the only way to catch prostate cancer at an early stage. They also point to the fact that death rates from prostate cancer … Read More

Prostatitis Symptoms and Treatment

The term prostatitis describes inflammation of the prostate gland. Unlike other prostatic conditions, prostatitis affects younger and older men alike. It is common, affecting up to 1 in 12 men in their lifetime and keeping urologists busy. If you have symptoms of prostatitis, your physician will want to determine the … Read More

Prostatitis Symptoms and Treatment by Type of Prostatitis

For many men with prostatitis, fatigue can be a daily companion, albeit an unwanted one. In fact, among the broad and diverse range of prostatitis symptoms accompanying chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)—the most common type of prostatitis—fatigue, pain, and urinary problems can be the most debilitating. But the adverse … Read More

Is Prostate Cancer Hereditary?

For many types of cancer, having a family history of the disease places you at a greater risk of developing the cancer yourself. So, if you’re a man with a close relative who had prostate cancer, you might be bothered by a lingering question: Is prostate cancer hereditary? No one … Read More

12 Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer? It’s a question that remains unanswered despite a growing body of research identifying risk factors and prevention strategies. Scientists do know that prostate cancer symptoms occur when changes or mutations in the DNA of prostatic cells cause abnormal proliferation of those cells, … Read More

Can You Die from Prostate Cancer?

Before widespread prostate cancer screening began in the late 1980s, many men newly diagnosed with the disease had advanced cancer that had spread beyond the prostate. Today, in the screening era, most men with the disease are diagnosed when their cancer is in an earlier, more curable stage. But, even … Read More

What Is Hypertrophy? A Closer Look at BPH

BPH is known by a number of names, among them enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and benign prostatic hypertrophy. But, what is hypertrophy? Hypertrophy is the process by which a cell grows beyond its normal size and causes tissue growth. Some forms of hypertrophy are positive–as when your muscles grow … Read More

Can Prostate Cancer Be Cured? Explore Your Treatment Options

Receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer is shocking—so much so that you might not fully process anything your doctor says after the “C word.” Consequently, you might forget about another “C word”—cure—and fail to understand that a prostate cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. So, can prostate cancer be … Read More

Is There a Normal PSA Level?

There is no universally accepted "normal" PSA level. In the past, a PSA of 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/ml) or less was considered normal; however, more recent studies have shown that some men with PSAs below 4 have prostate cancer and some men with PSAs over 4 do … Read More