Prostate Cancer Myths Revealed

Myth 1. Men with prostate cancer do die but not of it
In fact, each 6th male gets diseased with prostate cancer and each 35th dies of it. With some forms of cancer a male may live for years, however, remember that prostate cancer is second disease among cancers which ends up with death.

Myth 2. There is no need to undergo examination because specialists are not sure in its effectiveness
In fact, main aim of examination is to detect the disease at its early stage when the treatment is still effective. There do exist two methods of examination: PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test and digital rectal examination. Specialists do recommend to make both of them.

Normally, small amounts of prostate specific antigen are found in blood. PSA rate in blood do increases in prostate cancer, prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Like most tests, PSA test not provides 100% accuracy of diagnosis. In some cases is performed examination with the help of invasive methods such biopsy of prostate gland. On the other hand, PSA test results may be normal even if male has prostate cancer.

Since 1990 when PSA test was introduced in clinical practice, the mortality from prostate cancer was reduced. However, not all specialists think that PSA test is the cause of mortality lowering. Up to now do not stop discussions about the necessity of monitoring health of all males with the help of PSA test. However, men over 50 are recommended to make PSA test. In case man has in his family males (father, brother) who had prostate cancer, he must start examinations at 45 years old.

Myth 3. Man becomes impotent  after prostate gland removal
In fact, prostatectomy is the surgical removal of prostate gland damaged by cancer. Sometimes nerves that control erections may be affected. At first months after surgery most men face different forms of erectile dysfunction. It depends on male age, erection before surgery and way of surgical intervention how long this dysfunction will persist. Surgery that helps to avoid damage of nerves do reduces risks for erectile dysfunction development. If needed, erection may be maintained with injections into penis and special devices.

Myth 4. All men after prostatectomy do suffer from involuntary urination
In fact, involuntary urination is one of side effects of surgical removal of prostate gland. In most men it clears up after several weeks or months after surgery. According to statistics, in 5 years after surgical intervention about 1\3 of men suffer from stress-inducing involuntary urination when laughing and coughing. Serious problems with involuntary urination occur only in 5% of cases. Risk for involuntary urination lowers when surgery is performed by experienced specialists in large cancer centers.