Prostate cancer- Things you must know

Symptoms include:

1. Frequent urination, especially at night.
2. Difficulty in starting and stopping urination.
3. Weak and interrupted urine stream.
4. Pain or burning at urination and ejaculation.
5. Blood in urine or semen.

Growing older is the greatest risk factor. Risk increases after age of 50 and in men with family history (father or brother with prostate cancer).

Prostate hypertrophy, too much sex, or masturbation does not increase risk of prostate cancer.

Digital rectal exam (DRE) helps to detect cancer early and Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a test to diagnose its extent. These should be included in routine examination after 50.

Treatment options include radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

Erectile dysfunction is common side effect of the treatment. It usually improves within two years.

Good news about prostate cancer is that it usually grows slowly and 9 out of 10 cases are detected early and have good survival rate.

Prostate cancer survivors who exercised regularly had lower risk of dying.