“Physicians also recommend that men take simple preventive measures such as a diet low in animal fats”
Prostate Gland, chestnut-shaped male organ located next to the bladder and surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis). The prostate gland produces a secretion known as prostate fluid that makes up most of the liquid part of semen, which is discharged from the penis during sexual orgasm. Measuring about 3 cm (about 1.2 in) across, the prostate gland (see picture) is composed of both glandular tissue that produces prostate fluid and muscle tissue that helps in male ejaculation. Prostate fluid also helps to keep sperm, which is found in semen, healthy and lively, thereby increasing the chances that fertilization will occur.
There are a variety of prostate disorders that commonly afflict men of all ages. The most common prostate disease is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a non cancerous condition of unknown cause. It occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of men as they reach their 70s and 80s. In BPH, the prostate gland can increase in size from 20 g (0.71 oz), which is the average size of the prostate in younger men, to as large as 150 g (5.31 oz). As the prostate grows, it constricts the urethra, possibly causing a partial obstruction of the bladder. Such obstruction may lead to bladder wall thickening and urination problems. Symptoms such as frequent urination, nighttime urination, a feeling of urgency to urinate, difficulty emptying the bladder, and a weak urinary stream are the most common problems men encounter from prostate enlargement.
The Seminal Vesicles (see picture) of the male have already been mentioned as organs that secrete mucus. The most important male accessory gland is the prostate gland, a compound gland about the size of a chestnut located at the base of the urethra where the urethra leaves the bladder and enters the penis. The prostate secretes a thin milky fluid with a characteristic odor; this fluid constitutes the greater part of the semen that is deposited in the female vagina and that contains the spermatozoa. The prostate gland is present only in placental mammals, and among these mammals is absent in edentates, martens, otters, and badgers. Cowper's glands are two small glands, about the size of a pea, located on each side of the base of the penis. Their secretion is thick and clear and is believed to protect the spermatozoa against excess vaginal acidity. Cowper's glands are absent in bears, dogs, and aquatic mammals.
Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men. Prostate Cancer causes few if any symptoms in its early stages, but as it progresses it can lead to difficulties with urination and bleeding in the urinary tract, and the cancer can spread to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer may be detected by digital rectal examination. Testing for abnormally high blood levels of the protein known as Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is also used to diagnose the disease. Prostate cancer is treated using hormones, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgical procedures.
Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition of the prostate that is most common in men ages 20 to 50. There are two broad classes of prostatitis: Nonbacterial and Bacterial.
Prostate Gland, chestnut-shaped male organ located next to the bladder and surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis). The prostate gland produces a secretion known as prostate fluid that makes up most of the liquid part of semen, which is discharged from the penis during sexual orgasm. Measuring about 3 cm (about 1.2 in) across, the prostate gland (see picture) is composed of both glandular tissue that produces prostate fluid and muscle tissue that helps in male ejaculation. Prostate fluid also helps to keep sperm, which is found in semen, healthy and lively, thereby increasing the chances that fertilization will occur.
There are a variety of prostate disorders that commonly afflict men of all ages. The most common prostate disease is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a non cancerous condition of unknown cause. It occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of men as they reach their 70s and 80s. In BPH, the prostate gland can increase in size from 20 g (0.71 oz), which is the average size of the prostate in younger men, to as large as 150 g (5.31 oz). As the prostate grows, it constricts the urethra, possibly causing a partial obstruction of the bladder. Such obstruction may lead to bladder wall thickening and urination problems. Symptoms such as frequent urination, nighttime urination, a feeling of urgency to urinate, difficulty emptying the bladder, and a weak urinary stream are the most common problems men encounter from prostate enlargement.
The Seminal Vesicles (see picture) of the male have already been mentioned as organs that secrete mucus. The most important male accessory gland is the prostate gland, a compound gland about the size of a chestnut located at the base of the urethra where the urethra leaves the bladder and enters the penis. The prostate secretes a thin milky fluid with a characteristic odor; this fluid constitutes the greater part of the semen that is deposited in the female vagina and that contains the spermatozoa. The prostate gland is present only in placental mammals, and among these mammals is absent in edentates, martens, otters, and badgers. Cowper's glands are two small glands, about the size of a pea, located on each side of the base of the penis. Their secretion is thick and clear and is believed to protect the spermatozoa against excess vaginal acidity. Cowper's glands are absent in bears, dogs, and aquatic mammals.
Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men. Prostate Cancer causes few if any symptoms in its early stages, but as it progresses it can lead to difficulties with urination and bleeding in the urinary tract, and the cancer can spread to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer may be detected by digital rectal examination. Testing for abnormally high blood levels of the protein known as Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is also used to diagnose the disease. Prostate cancer is treated using hormones, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgical procedures.
Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition of the prostate that is most common in men ages 20 to 50. There are two broad classes of prostatitis: Nonbacterial and Bacterial.
Nonbacterial Prostatitis is the most common form of prostatic inflammation. It causes pelvic pain, problems with urination, discomfort after ejaculation, and lower back pain. The cause of nonbacterial prostatitis remains unclear but possible sources include viruses, prostate muscle spasm, backflow of urine through prostate ducts, and psychological disturbances. Recent evidence suggests that nonbacterial prostatitis may be caused by bacteria that are present in the middle of a prostate but cannot be detected by conventional diagnostic techniques.
Patients with nonbacterial prostatitis are treated with medications ranging from antibiotics to antispasmodics; less often, medications that relax the muscle in the prostate gland are administered. The success of such treatments varies widely, and in many cases men must live with the symptoms of prostatitis.
In Bacterial Prostatitis, which may be sexually transmitted, a bacterial infection in the prostate gland leads to infection, swelling, pain, and difficulty in urinating; the penis may release bacterial fluid, and blood may appear in the urine. In some cases bacterial prostatitis can cause a severe infection throughout the body, producing a dangerously high fever. Bacterial Prostatitis is treated with antibiotics but sometimes all the infection cannot be eliminated from the prostate gland and some men develop a chronically infected prostate.
Risk Factor
The specific mechanisms that lead to the development of prostate cancer are still unknown, but several risk factors for the disease have been identified. Incidence increases with age—prostate cancer seldom develops before the age of 40 and is chiefly a disease found in men over the age of 65. It is most common in North America and in northwestern Europe but rare in South America, the Near East, and Africa. In the United States, black males, who suffer from the disease 37 percent more often than white males, have the world’s highest incidence. A growing body of evidence links diets rich in animal fats with prostate cancer.
Dietary differences are believed to explain why the incidence of prostate cancer is 120 times greater in the United States than in China, where fatty foods are not part of the general diet.
Some foods seem to act as a shield against this disease. Studies show that tomato-based products protect against prostate cancer, possibly because tomatoes are rich in a substance called Lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant, a chemical agent that inhibits or retards the cellular process of oxidation. Too much cellular oxidation can be dangerous to a person’s health because it produces molecules called free radicals that increase the risk of cancer developing in body tissues. Long-term, moderate doses of vitamin E, another type of antioxidant, may block the progress of prostate tumors.
Some foods seem to act as a shield against this disease. Studies show that tomato-based products protect against prostate cancer, possibly because tomatoes are rich in a substance called Lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant, a chemical agent that inhibits or retards the cellular process of oxidation. Too much cellular oxidation can be dangerous to a person’s health because it produces molecules called free radicals that increase the risk of cancer developing in body tissues. Long-term, moderate doses of vitamin E, another type of antioxidant, may block the progress of prostate tumors.
Environmental factors, such as workplace exposures to cadmium, have also been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. Family history plays another important role. Men whose fathers or brothers develop prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease. Researchers are beginning to identify genetic markers of prostate cancer. For instance, the gene known as hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) appears to significantly predispose men to prostate cancer when inherited in a mutated form.
Symptoms and Diagnoses
Prostate Cancer usually progresses slowly and produces no symptoms in its initial stages. Warning signs may eventually include difficult or painful urination; frequent urination, especially at night; and blood in the urine or semen. Pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs may signal that prostate cancer cells have spread to the ribs, pelvis, and other bones. All these symptoms, however, may have other causes, such as infection and prostate enlargement, which are a natural result of the aging process.
Many doctors perform screening tests for prostate cancer during regular physical exams in order to identify the disease in its earliest—and most curable—stages. Doctors perform a digital rectal examination, in which the physician uses a gloved finger to gently check the smoothness of the rectal lining. If cancer is present, a physician may feel a nodule or other prostate irregularity. Another screening test, called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Prostate cancer cells overproduce this protein, causing an elevation of PSA levels in blood. If screening tests indicate cancer is present, a physician will usually perform a biopsy, in which a tissue sample is removed from the prostate and examined under a microscope. Doctors recommends that men aged 50 years and older should have an annual digital rectal exam and PSA test. Men who have a high risk for the disease (blacks or those with a family history of prostate cancer) should talk to their doctors about starting annual screening tests at a younger age.
Prostate Cancer usually progresses slowly and produces no symptoms in its initial stages. Warning signs may eventually include difficult or painful urination; frequent urination, especially at night; and blood in the urine or semen. Pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs may signal that prostate cancer cells have spread to the ribs, pelvis, and other bones. All these symptoms, however, may have other causes, such as infection and prostate enlargement, which are a natural result of the aging process.
Many doctors perform screening tests for prostate cancer during regular physical exams in order to identify the disease in its earliest—and most curable—stages. Doctors perform a digital rectal examination, in which the physician uses a gloved finger to gently check the smoothness of the rectal lining. If cancer is present, a physician may feel a nodule or other prostate irregularity. Another screening test, called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Prostate cancer cells overproduce this protein, causing an elevation of PSA levels in blood. If screening tests indicate cancer is present, a physician will usually perform a biopsy, in which a tissue sample is removed from the prostate and examined under a microscope. Doctors recommends that men aged 50 years and older should have an annual digital rectal exam and PSA test. Men who have a high risk for the disease (blacks or those with a family history of prostate cancer) should talk to their doctors about starting annual screening tests at a younger age.
Treatment
Localized cancers may be treated with hormones and anticancer drugs, which shrink the prostate tumor and suppress its ability to metastasize (spread to surrounding tissue). Certain drugs can slow the cancer’s growth after it has spread beyond the prostate.
In many cases, a prostatectomy—the surgical removal of the prostate—is performed, often in conjunction with radiation. However, this surgery can cause impotence and urinary incontinence. Prostatectomy, surgical removal or reduction of the prostate gland. In many men over the age of 60, the prostate gland enlarges. This condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, may obstruct the urethra, making urination difficult and leaving the sufferer more prone to infection of the urinary tract. Prostatectomy is also used to treat prostate cancer.
The most common method is transurethral prostatectomy, in which the gland is removed or reduced in size by passing a flexible optical instrument called an endoscope up the urethra. The endoscope may be equipped with a tungsten wire or a laser. The physician passes the endoscope through a hole in urethra wall to access the prostate, then directs a high-intensity electric current or a laser into selected areas of the prostate gland to burn the tissue. The dead tissue is gradually absorbed by the body, significantly reducing the size of the prostate gland. Alternatively, the endoscope may be equipped with a cutting tool, which the physician uses to shave away some of the prostate tissue. Transurethral prostatectomy has largely replaced open prostatectomy, in which the prostate is removed via an incision in the abdomen.
An alternative is brachytherapy, or seed implant therapy, in which radioactive iodine “seeds” are inserted into the prostate. The procedure, performed under local anesthesia, spares healthy, nearby tissue and appears to be as effective as surgery for men with early stage prostate cancer.
In men over the age of 70, the disease often progresses so slowly that death results from other causes before symptoms of prostate cancer have time to emerge. For this reason, some physicians believe that many patients in this age group can forego surgery and other treatments as long as their condition is regularly monitored—a treatment known as watchful waiting.
Several potential treatments are under investigation, including cryosurgery, in which freezing temperatures destroy cancer cells, and gene therapy, which bolsters immune-system defenses against cancer.
Urologists treat common disorders of the urinary system, including urinary tract infections; enuresis, the involuntary discharge of urine; cystitis, the inflammation of the bladder; tumors of the bladder; and mineral deposits in the kidney, commonly known as kidney stones. Urologists also specialize in disorders of the male reproductive system, such as enlargement of the prostate gland, and reproductive problems such as infertility and impotence.
Urology, surgical specialty concerned with diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system. Urologists study, diagnose, and treat disorders of the ureters, bladder, urethra, and kidney, and conditions affecting the male reproductive system, especially the prostate gland.
Urologists use a variety of surgical techniques, diagnostic tools, and treatment therapies. One of the tests urologists use most frequently to diagnose disease is urinalysis, the chemical analysis of a patient's urine. Ultrasound, a procedure that uses inaudible sound waves to generate computerized images of internal organs, enables urologists to see irregularities in the bladder and other organs. Urologists treat small kidney stones non surgically with lithotripsy, a procedure in which doctors direct sound waves at stones in the bladder to disintegrate them.
Two other important tools are the catheter, a long, tubular device for draining an obstructed bladder, and the cystoscope, a narrow, illuminated probe used to examine the bladder and ureters. Urologists also perform surgical procedures, such as prostatectomy—that is, the partial or complete removal of an enlarged or cancerous prostate gland—and operations to remove large kidney stones.
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