Prostate Health
	• Prostate PSA Test - Do you Need It Now? • Flomax for Enlarged Prostates • Prostate Cancer and Pomegranate Juice • Healthy Prostate Tips

Guys wake up!

 

It’s not a pleasant fact, but around 35,000 otherwise healthy men die from prostate complications every year. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men AND one of the easiest to cure if found early enough.

Those are the operative words – if found early enough. Because, if you’re like me, you don’t like to go to the doctor and you especially don’t like going when you know it involves your ass.

 

I know, I know, the very thought of being poked and prodded ‘down there’ makes you clench just thinking about it. But a few minutes of discomfort can prevent years of pain and suffering from cancer.

 

The good news is that not all tests performed to detect the presence of prostate cancer involve a rectal exam.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein that is manufactured by the prostate gland’s cells. The test actually measures the amount of PSA that’s in the blood and can be an early warning sign for cancer.

Men normally have low levels of PSA in their blood. But these levels increase when a prostate becomes cancerous whether it’s benign or malignant.

 

As we get older our prostates naturally undergo change. In most cases the prostate enlarges (prostatitis), which can lead to urinary problems and certain sexual complications. However, none of these are life threatening and can be treated with medication.

While an enlarged prostate is common, the cause of the enlargement should always be investigated because, while it might be the result of the natural aging process, it can also be a sign of cancer.

There’s no prescribed time when a PSA test should be done, but generally doctors recommend that all men over the age of 50 have yearly screenings. However, if you come from a family with cancer in your past, your doctor might want you to start getting regular tests as early as 45.