What to Say When Someone Is Battling Cancer

November 23, 2021

10 Facts About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may grow slowly and it's typically treatable. But hearing the words can still be scary. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer.

Facts About Risks of Getting Prostate Cancer

There are plenty of myths about why men get prostate cancer. Instead, let's look at some facts:

Having a vasectomy will not increase your risk of getting prostate cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Though it's true that the older you are, the more of a chance you'll develop prostate cancer, it's not true that only "older" men get the diagnosis. About a third of those diagnosed each year are under 65 years of age, says the Mayo Clinic.
Family history may play a part in receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer, but it doesn't mean you'll definitely have it if someone in your family had it. Men without a family history of the disease also develop prostate cancer, states the Mayo Clinic.

Facts about the PSA Test

The PSA is one of the most misunderstood tests for men. The PSA test is not a cancer detection tool. It does measure levels of a specific antigen in the prostate, but it does not measure for cancer, states the Mayo Clinic. The PSA number may indicate a number of issues in the prostate gland, including inflammation, infection, enlargement as well as cancer.

However, a low PSA level does not always mean you don't have the possibility of prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. For example, if you're overweight, your PSA could be diluted, says the PCF.

Facts About Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer's symptoms are sneaky. Here are two facts about the symptoms of this disease:

There are no symptoms in the beginning stages of prostate cancer, according to VeryWellHealth.
Symptoms of prostate cancer, such as bone and pelvic pain and changes in urination only appear when it's at a very advanced stage.

Facts About Prostate Cancer and Reproduction

If you're young and have a prostate cancer diagnosis, you may wonder if you can reproduce after treatment. In fact, chemo and radiation therapy post prostate cancer surgery may cause infertility. The best course of action is to freeze sperm ahead of time before surgery and treatment.

Facts About Prostate Cancer Treatment

One surprising fact is that there are currently 29 types of prostate cancer, according to PCF. There are a number of treatments for all the varied types of prostate cancer and one approach doesn't fit every case.

Another fact about treatment is the onset of precision medicine, called immunotherapy, which boosts your immune system to fight the cancer. Immunotherapy is administered as a vaccine. The vaccine, composed of your own immune cells, targets the troublesome protein to eliminate the cancer, according to the Cancer Research Institute.

A new, evolving treatment, called minimally invasive ablation, is a prostate cancer laser surgery. The laser destroys cancer cells in the prostate as well as select tissue. It's another type of precision medicine for prostate cancer, according to the Perlmutter Cancer Center.

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