He is a retired post graduate teacher. He came to me for last few weeks for slow urination. After routine tests he was found to have a small enlarged prostate gland. I asked him to take the pill. Within a few weeks, his problem was resolved.
I told him then, ‘Come back to me once in six months and get checked’. He did not listen to it. After two years he came with a new problem of ‘urine blockage’. On examination, he had stage II prostate cancer. It was only after 3 years of continuous treatment that he completely recovered from the cancer. Till then he faced many hardships. If only he had come for a proper re-examination, the cancer could have been detected at an early stage.
Treatment is also very easy. Sufferings will also be reduced. In general, once a user has developed an enlarged prostate, it should be monitored regularly. Only then can we find out whether it stops with normal inflammation and turns into cancer.
What is the prostate gland?In the abdomen, below the bladder, where the urethra begins, there is a pear-shaped gland on the outside. That is the prostate gland. Surrounding the neck of the bladder is the prostate. It is about the size of a pineapple. Through it passes the tube that drains urine from the bladder. This gland is present only in males; Not for women. This is its specialty. It is a sex gland in its entirety. It secretes a fluid made of protein. It nourishes sperm cells; It also serves as a transport medium for the spermatozoa when they ejaculate.
Prostate swelling There are mainly two types of problems that develop in the prostate gland. One, swelling of the prostate; Another is prostate cancer. Like graying hair, enlarged prostate (BPH) is a sign of aging. People with this experience frequent urination. It seems like it has to be spent in a hurry. However, urination is obstructed. Even after urinating, you still feel like you need to urinate. It will be drip by drop by drop. It can be treated initially with tablets. If this is not possible, it can be corrected with a surgical procedure called TURP.
Prostate cancer About 14 percent of men over age 60 develop prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States after lung cancer. Our country is not affected to that extent. However, because we are now eating the foods they eat, prostate cancer is also on the rise here. Mainly, it is the meats known as red meat that initiate this cancer.
Obese people are twice as likely to get it. Men who don’t go out in the sun and don’t exercise their hips should be a little more cautious. The reason is that a study says that prostate cancer is more common in people who are low in vitamin D.
It also happens in people who have inappropriate sex. If anyone in the family has had it, Successors are likely to come. Enzymes normally secreted in our body do good. But there is an enzyme called PRSS3. It becomes our enemy. If its levels are high in the blood, it can stimulate prostate cells and grow cancer, just like ants grow mud around a tree.
What are the symptoms?If a middle-aged man has any of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately. This is because these symptoms can also occur with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); May also be found in cancer. Only a doctor can know the real cause.
*Frequent urination.*The speed of urination may decrease. *Difficulty passing urine. *May appear to urinate repeatedly without passing urine completely. *Suddenly unable to urinate altogether.*Some people experience severe irritation while urinating. Can’t hurt. *Blood in urine. This is an important symptom.* Pain in the testicles may occur. Hip pain and back pain can be a frequent nuisance. These should not be ignored.
What tests are available? A ‘finger test’ in which the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum through the anus of the client will tell if the prostate gland is normal or swollen. However, other blood tests and scans are needed to accurately predict whether the swelling is cancerous.
PSA test PSA stands for ‘Prostate Specific Antigen’. It is a protein secreted by prostate cells. Its normal level is 4 nanograms/ml. If it exceeds this level, it means that the prostate is swollen. Likewise, an elevated acid/alkaline phosphatase test should only mean that the prostate is swollen. At the same time, if these levels are increased, it cannot be concluded that it is cancer. Many people have normal prostatitis but these levels are elevated. Then appropriate treatments are required.
To ensure cancer…Abdominal ultrasound scan should be done for those with high PSA level. These show how swollen the prostate is. You can see how much the swelling is blocking the bladder and how much urine remains in the bladder after a single urinate. By this we can understand the severity of the disease. If the effect of the disease is not clear even in this, MR. A special test called MR Spectroscopy is required. Along with CT/MRI scan, bone scan, we can find out many details about the condition of the prostate, whether it is cancerous or not, if it is cancerous, whether it has spread to the stomach, body and bones. Treatments can be tailored accordingly.
Tissue examination Before undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, a tissue examination called ‘Transrectal trucut biopsy’ should be done. This is a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is taken from the prostate through the rectum and examined. The patient can be informed beforehand thatcancer conditions Stage 1: Very early stage cancer. Often it is discovered incidentally. Stage 2: Cancer in one or both side lobes of the prostate gland. But, it has not spread nearby. Stage 3: Prostate cancer has spread to nearby organs. Stage 4: Prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
What is the treatment?Observational therapy: In very old people, if this cancer is in its early stages, only observation is enough. This is because it grows very slowly. A PSA test every three months and necessary follow-up tests are sufficient. On the contrary, other treatments can be started only if it grows rapidly.
surgery:This is a treatment where the prostate gland is surgically removed. Also there is removal of both testes. The reason is that the androgen hormone secreted by the testicles has the ability to stimulate the growth of the prostate gland. This treatment is also needed to avoid that. Removal of testicles in old age does not affect much. Instead, they will prescribe hormone replacement therapy.
Radiation therapy:It is carried out in two ways namely external radiation and internal radiation. Drug therapy and hormone therapy: These treatments are given considering the patient’s age, fitness and cancer condition. Hormonal treatment involves the use of a hormone pill/injection called ‘Stilfosterol’. Regardless of the treatment for prostate cancer, the patient needs regular monitoring and tests for at least 3 years. Only then can it be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body.
To prevent prostate problems! Do these exercises regularly*When urinating, contract the pelvic floor muscles and stop urinating.*Hold like this for 20 seconds.*Now urinate again.*This is called ‘a contraction’.*Do this 15 times.*This is called a round.Do this 3 to 5 rounds daily