A description of the role and nature of the Prostate gland

All about the Prostate Gland

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It lies beneath the bladder, covering the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder and the prostate to the penis. During sexual intercourse, the prostate adds nutrients to the seminal fluid on ejaculation, to help the numerous tiny sperm cells survive.

Few people know about the prostate gland, despite cancer of the prostate killing 8,100 men annually, yet most of us know about cervical cancer which kills 1,800 women each year. 75% of all men over the age of 50 have some symptoms arising from their prostate gland becoming enlarged, though not always due to prostatic cancer. As men get older their prostate gland tends to enlarge anyhow, and can cause `waterwork' problems such as:
  • Urgency the feeling of `having to go' immediately
  • Passing water frequently day and night
  • Incontinence loss of control, wetting yourself
  • Passing a poor stream of urine
  • Dribbling at the end of urination

Such embarrasing problems cause many men not to tell their doctor because they think it's just part of getting older. However, any man with any of these symtoms must tell his GP, because prostatic enlargement may be caused by cancer, though most cases are due to a non cancerous condition called 'benign prostatic enlargement,' which is easily treatable.

Some men ignore these symptoms, and as the prostate enlarges it eventually blocks the bladder outlet, with the patient 'dying to go', but being totally unable to pass any water at all. The bladder fullness and distension produce extreme pain, and so hospital admission is vital to have the urine drained off, by having a rubber tube or catheter passed along the penis into the bladder!

If the swelling of the prostate is due to cancer, it can spread very rapidly to other parts of the body, especially to bones. Hence early detection is of extreme importance, so any man having any of the `waterwork' symptoms mentioned earlier should report to his doctor at once. A simple blood test called the PSA test can detect prostate cancer, and in the USA it is a routine screening test for all men over the age of 50 55 yrs.

Various treatments are used for prostate cancer, including total removal of the gland, radiation therapy, hormone tablets and injections. The secret to beating cancer of the prostate is as with all cancers see your doctor as soon as you notice any change occurring in your bodily functions.
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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