Prostate Symtom

The prostate gland is located in the male reproductive system, just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. About the size and shape of a walnut, the prostate wraps around the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and through the penis. The main purpose of the prostate is to produce semen, which is squeezed out through the prostate during orgasm. There are many different types of prostate disease which can affect men, all of which can produce different types of prostate symptom. The most common prostate disease problems are prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. The inflammation can be classified in three different manners. Acute inflammation of the prostate gland, which is caused by bacteria and may be accompanied by chills and fever, is known as acute bacterial prostatitis. Other prostate symptoms of this prostate problem include pains in the lower back and rectum. A recurrent infection of the prostate, which is often associated with chronic urinary infection, is known as chronic bacterial prostatitis. Painful urination and genital pain may also accompany this form of prostate disease. A prostate problem in which there is no apparent bacterial infection, but there is inflammation, is known as nonbacterial prostatitis. The most common prostate symptom of nonbacterial prostatitis is difficult or painful urination.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that usually occurs in men who are over the age of 50. This enlargement in the prostate gland can cause a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which makes urinating difficult and painful. Many men who experience this prostate problem do not have any type of prostate symptom and as a result it may not be detected until an annual rectal exam. Men with this prostate problem who do experience types of prostate symptom are likely to notice difficulty in starting urination, frequent urination as well as an increased frequency in awakening at night to urinate. In some cases, the prostate symptom may lessen without active intervention. Medications as well as prostate treatment options that are non-surgical may also help to alleviate the prostate symptom of BPH. Sometimes heat processes are used to destroy excess tissue.

Prostate cancer is one of several types of disease that affects the prostate gland in males. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer among men, second only behind skin cancer. Approximately 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year and around 30,000 men die from prostate cancer each year. The cancer begins with an abnormal growth of cells of the prostate which begin to grow uncontrollably. Tumors are formed which may then spread to other parts of the body. If spreading occurs the tumors are then malignant and considered to be life threatening. Prostate cancer is usually slow in growing; however it can be quite aggressive. Although men are usually at least 50 or older when they develop prostate cancer, younger men have been diagnosed with it and unfortunately it is usually much more aggressive in younger men. Because of the fact that prostate cancer is slow growing, and can develop over a period of years, there may be no early prostate symptom. The lack of a prostate symptom early in the development of the disease makes it difficult to detect and unfortunately many men have already progressed to a later stage of the disease before it is detected, making life saving measurers more difficult.

Because of where the prostate gland is located and its function, any prostate symptom that is present is most likely to be related to urinary or sexual function. The prostate, along with the testicles and seminal vesicles, make up the major glands of the male reproductive system. Together these glands secrete the fluid that makes up the semen in which sperm travel and are secreted during ejaculation. About the approximate shape and size of a walnut, the prostate gland lies directly behind the bladder. The location of the prostate gland to the urinary tract usually leads to a prostate symptom that can be disguised as a urinary tract infection, making it that much more difficult to diagnose. Because the prostate gland wraps around the urethra, the tube that sends urine to the penis for urination, the first prostate symptom usually appears as a difficulty in urinating. This generally occurs because the prostate gland squeezes the urethra as the tumor begins to grow, making it difficult for urine to pass through the urethra. This type of prostate symptom can also be disguised as another type of prostate disease known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a non-cancerous condition of the prostate.

In some cases the tumor in the prostate gland may begin to break off into cells that spread to other parts of the body. Nearby lymph nodes as well as the blood may be affected by such metastasis as well as the lungs and bones in the pelvic area of the patient. When this occurs the patient may begin to experience other types of prostate symptoms. The patient may find that they experience weak or interrupted flow of the urine as well as a need to urinate more frequently than usual, particularly at night. Difficulty in starting urinating as well as a sudden inability to urinate may also be present. Patients may also experience pain or what feels like a burning sensation when urinating. In some cases a prostate symptom may appear as blood in the urine or in a persistent pain the lower back, hips or even thighs. If this type of prostate symptom is present, it is possible the cancer has already spread to the bones of the pelvic region. Finally, a patient may experience painful ejaculation as a prostate symptom.

While it is rare for prostate cancer do develop in men younger than 50, men who experience problems which may appear to be a prostate symptom should check with their physician. Due to the fact that almost all of the prostate symptoms are related to urinary function, many men may believe they have nothing more than a urinary infection and believe it will eventually clear up on its own or with self treatment. This is a very dangerous decision, because it means that the prostate cancer will not be detected until much later. When prostate cancer is not detected early, there is an increased chance that the patient will need to have their prostate gland removed, which will result in permanent problems with sexual function. The best chance to preserve sexual function is to go in for regular annual examinations and to be aware of signs which could be a prostate cancer symptom.