One in five men will get prostate cancer

Men who experience difficulty urinating should have their prostate checked as this can be an indicator of more serious health problems.

Urologist Dr Lall Sawh yesterday said men should have their prostate checked when the urine stream is affected (when there is stoppage, a stop and start stream, or incontinence). He referred specifically to men who missed the toilet bowl and wet the bathroom floor. Speaking on “Men’s Health” at Kappa Drugs Education Seminar at St Mary’s College Urologist Dr Sawh said there are many myths about the prostate, among them that ‘prostate cancer can’t happen to me’,  Statistics show otherwise as one in five men over 65 years in TT will get prostate cancer. This cancer is also the most common in men over 45 years superseding lung, gastrointestinal and other cancers. He said some men think they are too young to get this disease but he knew of men ages 41 and 42 who did have cancer. “You’re never too young to get cancer, statistically your chances get worse the older you become.”

Sawh said if men ignore the symptoms, cancer can spread to the bones resulting in pain, weakness and anemia. Bone fractures, becoming bed ridden and death are consequences. He said the only function of the prostate is to provide fluid to maintain longevity of the sperm. As men age, the size of the prostate increases. At 20 years the prostate is about 20 grams, at 45 years it increases to 45 grams. It can increase to 300-400 grams in some men. Growth rate is faster in men of African descent because they have a higher testosterone level. This may be regarded as good for sexual prowess, but is bad for the prostate due to increased  risk of cancer.

An enlarged prostate affects a man’s ability to urinate with ease. Sexual history does not make the risk of prostate cancer greater, however there is a risk as men with multiple partners can get the Human Papilloma Virus which increase the chances of cancer. Surgery, medicine, radiation (external and internal) are available for treating the disease. Dr Sawh said the treatment recommended by a doctor would depend on the “state at which the doctor caught the disease.” He said prostate cancer is a curable cancer if it is caught early. A diet high in red meats (beef, goat, sheep), can be a predisposing factor for cancer, while soy products and coloured vegetables (pumpkin, cooked tomatoes, fruit, legumes) have protective benefits.