What is prostate cancer and how to prevent it?
Did you know? Yesterday was World Prostate Cancer Day and, obviously, I couldn't miss the opportunity to talk to you about this disease that affects 1 in 8 men in the world.
Surely you have heard thousands of times about prostate cancer , right? However, you probably don't know everything you should about this disease. For example, did you know that it is the cancer that most affects men along with lung cancer and colon cancer ? Well, although it may surprise you, 1 in 8 men suffer from it throughout their lives.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs , obviously speaking, in the prostate ; that is, in the small walnut-shaped gland found in the male genital area and which is responsible for producing the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports the sperm .
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
It is important to carry out a routine control , since prostate cancer sometimes does not usually present symptoms . However, in most cases, this disease usually presents symptoms such as urination problems, decreased urine strength , blood in the urine or semen , bone pain , urinary incontinence , or even erectile dysfunction .
What are the causes of prostate cancer?
Although the causes of this cancer have not yet been determined , many specialists agree that this cancer occurs when the cells in the area undergo a change in their DNA . When undergoing these alterations , cells grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells. Thus, their accumulation creates a tumor that grows and invades nearby tissue .
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
- Advanced age: the passing of the years considerably increases the risk of suffering from prostate cancer , especially after the age of 50 .
- Race: Although the cause is not yet known, statistics show that African-American men tend to suffer more from this disease than those of other races. Also, they are often more likely to have the cancer more aggressive .
- Family history: genetics is capricious... Therefore, if you have a close relative who has suffered from prostate cancer or breast cancer or have a history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer (BRCA1, BRCA2) it is best that you be Be careful and do routine checks .
How to prevent prostate cancer?
As I always advise you, the best way to reduce the risk of suffering from cancer is to lead a healthy lifestyle , although this can never 100% avoid the risk, since it depends on many other factors that, unfortunately, are not in our hands.
Even so, here are some habits to prevent prostate cancer that you should carry out:
- Maintain a healthy diet: having a healthy diet that is based on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will mainly provide the body with all its nutrients and vitamins. Although the relationship between diet and prostate cancer is not yet scientifically proven , eating well will always help improve your well-being .
- Exercise: physical activity not only improves health , but also helps you lose weight and gain muscle mass.
Now you can say that you know everything there is to know about prostate cancer . (So you no longer have an excuse to carry out healthy habits and have routine check-ups to prevent it). Also, if you want to discover everything we know about other types of cancer, such as skin cancer , keep reading!
