For men over the age of 50, if answering yes to any of the following questions, you should talk to your doctor. There is help available.
Do You urinate often - especially at night? Have trouble starting your urine stream? Feel like your bladder isn't completely empty? If so, you may be experiencing the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate.
In fact, experts indicate it is common or a normal process of aging for the prostate to enlarge.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is Common
Research indicates symptomatic BPH is quite common, affecting 40 to 50 per cent of men ages 51 to 60 years.
The word "benign" means the cells are not cancerous. And the word "Hyperplasia" means an increased number of cells.
Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors of the prostate are not life threatening. They can usually be removed, and in most cases, they do not come back.
Experts indicate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the abnormal growth of benign prostate cells. In BPH the prostate grows larger and presses against the urethra and bladder interfering with the normal flow of urine.
It is not clear whether certain groups face a greater risk of getting BPH. And, the cause of BPH is not well understood.
What is a Prostate?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. The gland is made of two lobes or regions enclosed by an outer layer of tissue. It is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder, where urine is stored. The prostate also surrounds the urethra, the canal through which urine passes out of the body.
Researchers don't know all of the prostate's functions. One of its main roles is to squeeze fluid into the urethra as sperm move through during sexual climax. This fluid, which helps make up semen, energizes the sperm and makes the vaginal canal less acidic.
Normal Growth of Prostate
As a man matures, the prostate goes through two main periods of growth. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. At around age 25, the gland begins to grow again. This second growth phase often results, years later, in BPH.
Though the prostate continues to grow during most of a man's life, the enlargement doesn't usually cause problems until late in life. BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40, but researchers indicate that more than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH.
As the prostate enlarges, the layer of tissue surrounding it stops it from expanding, causing the gland to press against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine causing more frequent urination.
Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself. Urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH.
Diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is Importat
Diagnosis of BPH includes a digital rectal exam, symptom questionnaire, urine test, and blood test.
Discuss what treatment options are best for you. BPH needs to be treated only if your symptoms are bothersome or your urinary tract is seriously affected.
For more information contact The Canadian Cancer Society at: 1-888-939-3333.
Or go to The National Institutes of Health, Prostate Diseases web site.
