Prostate cancer: Get informed

It is estimated that 1 out of 7 men in the world lives with this condition and that the average age at which they were or will be diagnosed is 66.

Contrary to other cancers like the pancreas, which develop fast, prostate cancer grows slowly, so for years you may already be living with it, and not have any visible signs. 

There are no specific reasons known to why prostate cancer develops. The most common cause we can mention is the age factor, which leaves all men over 50 vulnerable to this disease. Throughout a man's life, the prostate, which is the size of a nut and located between the penis and the bladder, can increase its size and block the urethra or the bladder, causing problems in urinating or interfering with sexual performance. 

Having prostate cancer is not easy for the patient or for their close ones, which sometimes leaves the patient facing the disease alone. This is why it is so important to find people that are willing to listen and to share their stories, so we can get help and a better understanding of our condition.

Sometimes the problem doesn’t get any worse, and stays only with an enlarged bladder. This condition is called “benign prostatic hypertrophy”, which can give some trouble, as previously mentioned, but it won't develop into cancer. In other cases, the complication will escalate to frequent urination, weak flow, and unexplained weight loss, among other problems; which most frequently will lead to  a cancer diagnosis.

When having prostate cancer, we should never feel bad or ashamed about asking for help or asking about things related to the condition, like tests, treatments and even the most intimate issues.

American Cancer Society
UK National Health Service

Published Aug 2, 2017