As men become older they run more and more risk of developing prostate cancer. Some doctors advocate regular check-ups after the age of 50 or even 60, but others suggest that you should begin checking at 40.

It seems wiser to begin checking as early as you are able and definitely at 40 or 50 years of age, because the earlier it is diagnosed, the more chance you have of surviving it. The difficulty with prostate cancer is that it spreads more quickly than most cancers.

In this piece, we will try to give answers to a couple of basic questions that you might have concerning this male disease. However, there is just space here for the fundamentals, so please take significant questions to your physician.

What is the prostate gland and where is it? The prostate is about the size of a walnut, but is conical in shape. It is part of the male reproductive system and is linked to the penis because it is wrapped about the urethra right up near to the bladder.

This makes the prostate somewhere between the anus and the penis. Because of its position, it is not easy to get at and so most examinations are rectal ie from the colon. Many men find this embarrassing, which is why a lot of men put of a check-up until it is too late.

What are the chances of getting prostate cancer? White American males more than the age of 50 have a one-in-six risk of getting some malignancy.

Hispanics and Blacks have a one-in-four risk. However, all these figures increase if there is a history of prostate cancer in the family.

What are the indications of prostate cancer? This question is not simple to answer, because the indications can look like other concerns and everybody knows that ‘all old men’ have bladder problems

The prostate swells as it grows older anyway, so this could be the cause of urination issues. This is characterized by urinating a little at a time, but having to urinate frequently. Sometimes there are drips too after you have put it away.

The indications of prostate cancer are similar but may include blood in the urine and lower back pain. If you have anything like these concerns, you have to have a check-up as soon as possible.

Can prostate cancer be diagnosed early enough to save life? Fortunately, the answer to this is yes. There are two forms of examination: 1] the DRE – digital rectal exam (or ‘finger up the bum’) and 2] the PSA blood test (prostate specific antigen), although this test is often only carried out if the DRE raises suspicions.

If the cancer is diagnosed early enough through regular screening, the likelihood of living more than five years are more than 90%. Continued success relies on a number of factors, but the cancer can also be totally eradicated never to return.

It can not be emphasized too much, that, as with some female-specific cancers, success fighting this cancer relies on catching it early.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a variety of topics, but is currently concerned with the proton prostate cancer treatment. If you want to kcurrently more go to What is the Treatment for Prostate Cancer?