How to detect and 5 dangerous myths about illness

In May with US Expature Joe Biden Diagnosed aggressive form of prostate cancer with bone metastases.

However, not only older men and not only presidents suffer from him. So we decided to explain what the body was and how to protect ourselves from prostate cancer.

• How often does men have this type of cancer?
• How to detect it in time?
• And what do you need to know about the prostate?

We talked to urologist and andrologist for that Artem Krivonosov.

A small organ with serious work: what is a prostate

Prostate or prostate gland is A small glandwhich is slightly below the bladder.

According to the urologist and andrologist Artem Krivonosov, this gland secretes the secret (fluid) that activates sperm.

Sperm is, in fact, a « mix » of the secretion of prostate and sperm.

”Another prostate function is the activation of testosterone hormone into active testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. This hormone plays A key role in the development of sexual characteristics in men. And, in particular, in the formation of male genital organs« , – adds the doctor.

It is not difficult to guess, this organ exists only in men.

And problems with urination are often a sign that something is wrong with a simple one.

For example:

• difficulty in starting urination or the need to strain to urinate,
• a weak stream of urine, intermittent urination and longer than usual process of bladder emptying,
• feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied,
• Urine leak after urination,
• need to urinate more often or urgently including night awakening for urination,
• Hiking in the toilet 1-2 times a night.

Prostate problems are believed to be exclusively by men, 50+. It is partly a myth. And this is the myth # 1, which we will talk about.

Yes, the problem with prostate occurs more often after 50 years, but can actually be presented by any man who has a prostate.

”Examination of the prostate with your finger with a doctor can and should start done after 18 years. The urologist is recommended to visit once a year even from the age of 18. During the inspection, men are checked by a member, scrotum and prostate. It is important to understand whether there is inflammation or suspicious tumors there« , – the doctor explains

The doctor says that many men do not dare to be examined because they are banally afraid that it is painful, and the first thing that the doctor will do is to push the finger into the ass. It’s not true.

Myth # 2. The prostate can only be inspected through the anus.

Not just. There are options. For example, the inspection can be replaced with a spermogram. After all, the prostate helps to produce a family. And you can evaluate the work of the prostate by estimating the quality of semen.

And here we approach the third myth.

Myth # 3. There are no effective prostate cancer screenings.

They are, and This is what saves life, says Artem Krivonosov:

« I saw in some protocols the figure of 45 years, but I would advise to start with 40. Because I very often diagnose prostate oncology at 42 and 43, etc. ».

How is prostate screening?

A person comes to a urologist who makes a basic examination of a member, scrotum and prostate. Next, you will have a blood test. This analysis is called PSA – a tumor marker.

And here it is very important to understand that this analysis does not diagnose cancer. It prevents the development of cancer in your prostate.

”This analysis prevents possible development. The figures indicated in the analysis allow the doctor to understand how high the chances of the patient already have cancer. This is not a diagnosis. If we pass this analysis once a year, then in dynamics we can understand how high the risks of developing oncology« , – explains the urologist.

The next thing that can be advised is the prostate ultrasound. This does not diagnose cancer, but will help identify other pathologies. It is more informative to do it rectally, that is, through anus. Although, of course, it is not very nice.

Is it possible to examine the prostate yourself and whether the prostate massage helps?

Categorically not!

First, it is dangerous. Second, impossible. Third, you hardly know what to look for. Because you can banal yourself.

For example, for examination, your doctor will ask you to lie on your side and pull your knees.

As for massage, this procedure is extremely rare.

As the urologist explains, this makes sense only in the « stagnation » of the secret, which can lead to sperm leakage and reduce the quality of life.

In other cases, this does not require a procedure.

Myth # 4. To prevent prostate cancer, you just need to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Undoubtedly, healthy lifestyles, physical activity, abandonment of smoking and alcohol significantly reduce the risks of many types of oncology. However, as the doctor explains, in almost all men after 45 years, adenoma appears in the prostate.

”Prostate adenoma is a benign formation. It happens in almost all men aged 45+. The problem is that we cannot « guess » when the adenoma develops into a malignant formation – adenocarcinoma, that is, oncology. To do this and do the PSA test « – says the urologist.

The doctor adds that the path from the first analysis to the diagnosis of cancer in US Expatient Baiden looked like this: doctors saw changes in the numbers of his analysis of PSA and recommended him the next stage of diagnosis – MRI with contrast.

”During the MRI, the doctor looks at the scale called Pi-RADS (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System). This is a 5-level scale. Where the first and second digits mean that all is well. And the third/fourth/fifth requires prostate biopsy: rectally in the prostate makes a puncture for material collection. Biopsy will already finally confirm the presence or absence of oncology« , – he concludes.

Why is cancer at the stage of metastases now? It’s hard to say.

Artem Krivonovosov believes that Baiden’s cancer was found at the stage when the organ was not pointless, and for a long time it was on the drugs. But at some point, the disease began to progress.

Myth # 5. If I do not have symptoms, then I do not have prostate cancer.

No! This is the trouble: when the symptoms appear, it is most likely to do something late.

Prostate cancer does not show itself for a long time.

”When a person felt the symptoms, it means that the cancer began to sprout into other organs. From now on, it can also quickly metastasize in the bones and other organs and systems. Sometimes patients aged 60-70 years with spine pain come to me. And on examination it turns out that it is already metastases and all we can offer is that palliative care« , – says the doctor.

He notes that often in the terminal stages of prostate cancer, even morphine helps with pain in the terminal stages of prostate cancer.

If the disease is diagnosed in the early stages, then hormone therapy can help, namely a decrease in the hormone of testosterone, which allows to stop tumor growth.

In some cases, according to the doctor, the prostate is required.

”Then a person just lives on. Of course, removing the organ will require a long recovery process: for some time, urinary leakage and erection problems may be disturbed. Erection manages to recover not always« , – he says.

How it will affect a person’s life, the question is very individual.

The doctor explains that someone’s urinary leakage can last up to a year.

There can be problems with erection – it is difficult to make forecasts here.

However, death from this form of cancer is more frightening. Timely diagnosis saves life.

Natalia Bushkovskayaespecially for UP. Life