Prostate Problems

The prostate is a gland located in the male reproductive system. It lies close to the rectum and wraps around the urethra (the tube that carries the urine from the bladder). Prostate problems can occur at any age, but men between the ages of 30 and 50 experience prostate problems more than any other age group.

Problems
Prostatitis: This is inflammation of the prostate gland, which is usually caused by an infection. Only 5% of the infections are caused by bacteria, the rest have an unknown cause. A bacterial infection can either be acute or chronic and can cause several different side effects. This is the most common prostate problem for men under the age of 50.

Enlarged Prostate: For men over the age of 50, an enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem. An enlarged prostate is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As men age, the prostate can keep growing. As the prostate grows, it can begin to put pressure on the urethra, which carries the urine. Problems with urination, stream flow, and even blood in the urine or back pain can occur.

You will want to contact your physician if you experience any of these problems. Other side effects include:
• Frequency of urination increases, especially in the middle of the night
• Feeling of urgency for urination
• Trouble starting a urine stream
• Weak stream flow
• Leaking or dribbling of urine
• Feeling like you still need to urinate even after you do
• Small amount of urine expelled each time you go

BPH does not lead to cancer but can lead to other serious problems, such as an infection. By itself, BPH is not a serious condition.

Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is a serious condition. In some cases, prostate cancer grows very slowly and it is possible that one may never know that they have it or may never experience any problems throughout their life because of it.

There are several treatment options that are available for prostate cancer. They are:
• Radical Prostatectomy
• External Radiation Therapy (XRT)
• Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy)
• Hormone Therapy

The radical prostatectomy, external radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy are all surgical procedures designed to remove and/or apply radiation to the cancerous cells, in an effort to possibly eliminate the cancer.

Hormone therapy is designed to slow the growth of the cancer but not remove it. Hormone therapy is more effective if it is used in combination with another procedure rather than by itself. There are side effects for hormone therapy and those depend on the type of medication prescribed by the physician.
Prostate problems can either be simple and not cause any trouble or be very serious. If you feel as though you may be experiencing any type of prostate problem, it is recommended that you contact your physician to determine the diagnosis.