Dr. Michael Kaplan: What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that grows in the prostate gland, says Dr. Michael Kaplan. The prostate gland is responsible for producing semen. The cancer is one of the most common to occur in men. Not all prostate cancers are the same, though. Some may not need any treatment while others grow rapidly and spread to other areas of the body if not treated.

Dr. Michael Kaplan Describes the Signs of Prostate Cancer

In some cases, a man may have no symptoms or signs of prostate cancer. Without testing, some men may not know they have cancer until it is it too late, warns Dr. Michael Kaplan. More advanced forms of prostate cancer tend to exhibit signs, which include:

• Urination Problems. ?A common sign of prostate cancer is difficulty urinating. Some men may notice that the flow of urine is not as full or strong as it once was. Another symptom may be blood in the urine.

• Pain and Swelling. Other symptoms of prostate cancer include swollen legs and pain in the pelvis.

• Bloody Semen. In addition to blood in the urine, another symptom of prostate cancer is blood in the semen.

Dr. Michael Kaplan: Who is at Risk for Prostate Cancer and How is it Treated?

Some men have a greater risk for prostate cancer than others, says Dr. Michael Kaplan. Older men are at greater risk than younger men. It also tends to run in families and to impact men who are overweight or obese. African-American men are also at a higher risk for the cancer. Prostate cancer in African-American men tends to also be more malignant and aggressive.

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on its severity. For some men, the best treatment is keeping an eye on the cancer. Some cancers never develop or spread, and aggressive treatments can do more harm than good, warns Dr. Michael Kaplan.

Radiation therapy is a common treatment if the cancer begins to grow or to spread to other areas of the body. The radiation kills the cells that cause the cancer. It is not without unpleasant side effects, including pain when urinating or trouble passing stools

Urologist Dr. Michael Kaplan notes that other treatments for advanced forms of cancer include surgery and chemotherapy. During surgery, the prostate gland is removed, as are a few lymph nodes in the area. Medical expert Dr. Michael Kaplan warns that there may be serious effects following surgery, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction. But as Dr. Michael Kaplan assures patients, it?s important to get treated as soon as possible.

Source: http://dr-michael-kaplan.com/dr-michael-kaplan-prostate-cancer/

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