Movember – Prostate Cancer Awareness
Movember has become a global movement to raise awareness of men’s health issues, particularly for those diagnosed with prostate cancer. Growing a moustache in the month of November is part of it all, hence the name “Movember.”
To mark Movember, the Comfort Keepers editorial team examines the impact of prostate cancer in Ireland. Find out what to consider if you’re thinking of getting yourself checked, as we look at the facts about this common cancer.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer develops when the cells in the prostate gland grow in an abnormal way and form a lump or tumour. The prostate, found in those born physically male, sits in front of the rectum, just underneath the bladder.
The Prostate and Its Function
With similar dimensions to a walnut, it surrounds the urethra, the tube that gets rid of urine from the bladder. An enlarged prostate can press against the urethra, making urination difficult. As men grow older, the prostate tends to get bigger in size.
This gland also makes a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that turns semen into liquid. High PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer. It can also flag up a less serious condition, such as a prostate or urinary infection.
Some prostate cancers grow slowly, while others spread more aggressively. In Ireland, this kind of cancer is a relatively common form of the disease. Almost 4,000 men will get a diagnosis every year. Cancer can manifest itself in different ways. These are:
1. Early (Localised) Prostate Cancer
This type stays inside the gland itself. It won’t have gone any further than the prostate gland. There can sometimes be no symptoms.
A medical professional may suspect it’s there after carrying out a specific type of blood test known as a PSA.
2. Locally Spread Prostate Cancer
This means the cancer has broken through the capsule or covering of the prostate or has moved on from outside the gland to neighbouring tissues. These include your lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, neck of the bladder or the rectum.
The seminal vesicles, located behind the prostate, store seminal fluid. Some treatments for locally spread prostate cancer set out to cure it. Others aim to control it or stop it from growing.
3. Metastatic (Advanced) Prostate Cancer
This is when prostate cancer cells have advanced elsewhere. They will affect different bodily bits much further away from the prostate gland. The most common place for prostate cancer to spread is to the bones.
Stand Up for Your Prostate
This Marie Keating Foundation campaign promotes prostate cancer awareness and prevention in Ireland. It urges Irish men to have their PSA checked once they reach the age of 50 or 45 if they have a family history of prostate or breast cancer.
The test takes just 5 minutes and could save your life. If detected early, prostate cancer is very treatable, with a five-year survival rate of 90%. The challenge is getting men to see their GP in order to talk about their health and the PSA test.
The campaign aims to encourage men to see their doctor and consider the necessary next steps. Increased PSA testing in recent years has led to more prostate cancer diagnoses. If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, you are twice as likely to get prostate cancer at some point in your life.
Risk Factors and Causes of Prostate Cancer
The exact cause of the majority of prostate cancers remains unknown. There may be a higher risk of getting prostate cancer if:
You are over 50—prostate cancer is rare in men under this age
There is a family history of prostate cancer
You are a man with a faulty BRCA2 gene
Your diet is rich in fats and low in fibre
You are from an African-American or African-Caribbean ethnic group
Symptoms to Watch For
Although early prostate cancer can display no obvious symptoms, you should see a doctor if:
Difficulty or pain when passing urine.
Frequent and urgent need to urinate.
Increased trips to the toilet, especially at night.
Weak, interrupted, and patchy urine flow.
You get an unsatisfactory feeling after urinating that the bladder isn’t empty.
There is blood in the urine.
Enlarged Prostate vs. Prostate Cancer
As men age, the prostate tends to get bigger, and it can cause an obstruction of the bladder outlet. The symptoms are similar to many of those listed above.
We refer to this enlargement as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is more common than prostate cancer, but both conditions can co-exist.
Getting Checked for Prostate Health
If you experience any of the symptoms we’ve just listed, you should make an appointment with your GP. They will assess your condition and carry out an examination of your prostate gland.
This might include a digital rectal examination (DRE). Your doctor will use their finger to check for abnormalities inside the rectum.
The examination is fast and painless. Bear in mind that early detection is likely to make the treatment more successful.
How Doctors Diagnose Prostate Cancer
Doctors use several tests for prostate cancer diagnosis. These include a digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA blood test, rectal scan, and biopsy.
PSA Blood Test
The PSA test measures the quantity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a person’s blood. PSA is a protein that is made by normal cells and prostate cancer cells. It is normal for all men to have a small quantity of PSA in their blood. This amount rises as you grow older.
A raised PSA level could be a sign of prostate cancer, but this is not always the case. About 75% of men with elevated PSA levels will not have the disease. Others with a normal PSA level may, in fact, have prostate cancer.
Additional Factors Doctors Consider
Your GP will evaluate multiple factors before referring you to a specialist for further testing. These include:
The results of a DRE
Whether you are at higher risk of prostate cancer
Any other health problems or issues that may have affected the results
Whether you’ve had a prostate biopsy in the past
Your GP may also do another PSA test, especially if your PSA only appears slightly raised.
What are the Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer?
The best approach depends on several factors, including the type of cancer cells detected, age, and overall health.
Options include active surveillance by carrying out regular PSA blood tests and DREs. In other cases, treatment may involve one or a combination of the following:
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy
Your doctor will always discuss the potential treatments with you, outlining potential benefits and risks.
Many people find it helpful to have a friend or relative with them when the treatment is explained. It can also help to write down a list of questions in advance.
Organisations like the Irish Cancer Society provide vital support for men diagnosed with cancer. The initiative focuses on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer.
How to Reduce the Risk of Getting Prostate Cancer
It may help to lower the chances of getting prostate cancer by looking after your general health. This means sticking to a healthy weight and combining a balanced, low-fat diet with regular physical activity.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week, if possible. It’s always worth talking through the advantages and disadvantages of having a PSA test with a health professional, such as your GP.
Before making your decision, consider these questions:
Am I more at risk of prostate cancer?
If the result of my PSA test was normal, would this reassure me?
If my PSA level were high, what would I do?
If diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer, would I choose treatment despite possible side effects affecting daily life?
Comfort Keepers and Homecare Support in Ireland
We are proud to play a small part in the Movember movement through this article.
Comfort Keepers offers a range of homecare services that can improve the health and well-being of those wanting to live independently at home for as long as possible.
If you’d like to find out more, click here and book a free consultation today.
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