The prostate is the male reproductive gland situated below the bladder and in front of the rectum, which produces fluid for sperm. As men age, prostate problems can develop as the prostate gland becomes larger. There are different types of problems such as prostate cancer that can require varying degrees of treatments. The Center for Disease Control reports that in the United States statistics figures for 2005 show that about 185,895 men were diagnosed with this problem.
The Facts
The prostate is walnut-sized and surrounds the urethra. Prostate problems are more prevalent in men who are 50 or older. However, younger men under 50 can experience a problem called prostatitis. For men over 50, a very common problem is prostate enlargement also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate cancer is also a common prostate problem. The National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health report that this type of cancer ranks as the third most common cause of death among men of all ages.
Prostatitis
In some cases, prostatitis can be the result of a bacterial infection. Two types of this condition are acute and chronic prostatitis. Acute prostatitis can have symptoms that include fever, pain while urinating, lower back pain and chills.
Chronic prostatitis is recurrent prostatitis. Even though the symptoms of chronic prostatitis can be milder than acute prostatitis, it may be harder to treat.
When a bacterial infection causes either acute or chronic prostatitis, antibiotics are a treatment used to relieve the symptoms. However, for other cause of prostatitis other alternative treatments might be prostate massage or warm baths.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that usually happens over time. In this condition, the prostate grows and can compress the urethra that in turn causes a blockage of urine flow from the bladder through the urethra. Some symptoms of BPH can be urgent need to urinate frequently and slow urine flow. BPH can also cause urinary tract infection in some cases.
There are many treatment options that include medicines and nonsurgical transurethral procedures such as PVP and TUIP. These procedures remove excess prostate tissue. Another treatment option is surgery (see Resources below).
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignant growth in the prostate gland. It can grow very slowly and present very few symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, it can have symptoms similar to BPH like difficulty in urination. However, it can spread to other body organs or parts
Treatment options for prostate cancer depend on patient's age, health and the cancer stage (see Resources). For cancer in its early stage a wait and watch approach is possible. When cancer is confined to the prostate, surgery is an option. Depending on the stage of the prostate cancer, other options can include radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and cryosurgery
Consideration
Prostate problems like prostatitis and BHP are very treatable. However, if prostate cancer is not detected in its early stages, it can be more difficult to treat. It is important for men to know the signs of prostate problems and get the proper diagnosis and treatment. Likewise, men who are 40 or older should be screened on a yearly basis for prostate cancer. The screening test should include a digital rectal exam by a doctor and a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA) for men over 50.
Tags: prostate cancer, prostate gland, acute chronic, acute chronic prostatitis, bacterial infection