Prostate enlargement and prostate cancer
The increase in the number of normal prostate cells in the second phase of normal growth of prostate is termed as prostate enlargement and cancer refers to increase in number of abnormal cancerous cells.
Prostate enlargement is a non-cancerous condition.The number of cells in the central portion of the prostate increases in the second phase of normal growth of prostate gland((there are two phases of normal growth of prostate one on the onset of puberty and second at the age of 25). This second phase ,sometimes, get delayed. and results in prostate enlargement.There is no particular cause of prostate enlargement , but many scientists believe that it is dependent on the synthesis of both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone ( DHT), testosterone in the prostate, which may help control the growth of the prostate.
Prostate cancer involves growth of the abnormal cells which forms a malignant tumor within the prostate gland. The prostate gland is an exocrine gland present only in the men.It constitutes 15%-30% of the seminal fluid. These abnormal cells are different from the normal cells in a manner that normal cells grow, divide and die in some organized order, but the tumor cells keep on growing and dividing without any control. Prostate cancer mostly develops in men aged above 80.
The National Cancer Institute(NCI) booklet ( NIH publication NO. 05-1576) says out of every 3 men who are diagnosed with cancer each year, one is diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate enlargement and prostate cancer
There are many types of cells present in the prostate gland but mostly prostate cancer arises from the gland cells.The fluid released by the prostate which adds a major contribution to the semen is formed from the gland cells. The term for this type if prostate cancer arising from the gland cells is adenocarcinoma. Prostate cancer can also be in other forms like sarcomas, small cell carcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas.Most of the prostate cancer cells develop at slow rate. In90% of the prostate cancer cases, the tumor cells growth is limited to prostate(local) or spread to adjacent areas( regional).Prostate cancer strikes 1 in6 American men according to studies done by researchers.
Prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH), is very common. It affects about 50% all men in their sixties, and up to 90 % of men in their seventies and eighties. It's not a serious condition. There is specific way to prevent prostate enlargement, but prostate enlargement and cancer are not associated .
It seems that married men are more likely to have prostate enlargement and cancer is found mostly in men who lead sedentary life and has high fat content in their diets.The patient shows symptoms from the onset of prostate enlargement and cancer patient may not show symptoms in the early stages of disease.
The common symptoms between prostate enlargement and cancer are indicated below:
The prostate grows in size because of,increase in normal cells in prostate enlargement and cancer leads to increase in number of abnormal cells.The enlarged proprostatestate in both the cases presses the urethra, disrupting the flow of urine. Some indications of prostate enlargement and cancer may include more frequent urge of urine at night time, the urgent need to urinate, difficulty starting and closing the stream of urine, dribbling of urine, and a feeling of not being able to completely empty the urinary bladder.
On digital rectal examination,prostate feels soft and rubbery in prostate enlargement and caner has firm ,hard feel like a stone.
Treatment is not given immediately , but physicians recommend waitful watching if and until the symptoms worsen in prostate enlargement and cancer patients are started with immediate treatment option ,depending upon the stage of the cancer.