TUESDAY, DAY 2
DISEASES AND AILMENTS
The prostate is a walnut-size gland in the male reproductive system. Despite its diminutive size, this organ is the target of the second-leading kind of cancer diagnosed in American men. (The first is lung cancer.) Each year, more than 200,000 are diagnosed with prostate cancer—and 40,000 die of it.
Like all other forms of cancer, prostate cancer is caused by abnormal cells that grow more rapidly than regular cells. In this instance, the cancerous cells group together in clumps called tumors. If not treated early on, these tumors can metastasize, or travel to other areas of the body, causing widespread damage. Fortunately, prostate cancer cells usually spread slowly. Early signs include a weakened urine stream; hesitant, slow, frequent, or painful urination; painful ejaculation; and blood or pus in the urine. These effects are similar to those of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate, a condition that affects half of men over the age of 60.
Because prostate cancer symptoms are mild and easy to overlook before a tumor spreads, the American Cancer Society recommends that all men ages 50 and above receive a prostate cancer screening every year. This includes a blood test that checks the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker of the disease, as well as a digital rectal exam. In this test, a physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the patient’s rectum to feel for bumps on the prostate.
If cancer is detected, there are a number of different treatment options, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Cryotherapy, in which tissue is frozen and destroyed, and hormone therapy are also options. For more serious cases, surgical removal of the prostate may be required.
A number of lifestyle changes can help lower prostate cancer risk. Regular exercise and a low-fat diet have been shown to protect against the disease, as has eating plenty of foods high in lycopene, including tomatoes and watermelon.