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Does a Lump on the Prostate Mean Cancer?
While the thought of being diagnosed with cancer is a scary one, it's important to know that finding a suspicious lump may cause you to worry about something that, in the end, is harmless. For men, one worry is prostate cancer 2. Often this cancer shows no early symptoms, and when a symptom does appear, it may be in the form of a lump or growth on the prostate gland—which does not necessarily mean cancer 2.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
The Prostate Gland
The prostate gland is the part of the reproductive system that produces semen. Located below the bladder, this walnut-sized organ is situated around the urethra, which is the tube that carries both urine and semen out of the body. Sometimes the prostate becomes enlarged—more than half the men in the U.S. over the age of 60 have an enlarged prostate. This is usually not cancer, but it can cause problems, such as trouble with urination.
- The prostate gland is the part of the reproductive system that produces semen.
- Located below the bladder, this walnut-sized organ is situated around the urethra, which is the tube that carries both urine and semen out of the body.
Prostate Cancer
What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer in Young Men?
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Prostate cancer is a form of the disease that starts within your prostate gland and may spread to other parts of the body 2. Often a lump or enlargement is the first sign that something is amiss. According to the New York State Department of Health, prostate cancer usually develops very slowly, so symptoms such as lumps may not be detected at a very early stage 12. While the exact cause:
- of prostate cancer is unknown
- it may be a combination of factors that include heredity
- hormones
- environment
- diet
- ethnicity
- according to the mayoclinic.com 2
The good news is that about 90 percent of prostate cancers are detected before they have had a chance to spread.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
The earliest symptoms of prostate cancer are often caused by an enlargement of the gland and can include urinary problems such as trouble urinating, weak stream of urine, and starting and stopping when urinating 2. More advanced symptoms include blood in your semen or urine, swelling in your legs, pelvic pain, bone pain and bone fractures.
What Else Could That Lump Be?
What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Problems?
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If your doctor finds a prostate gland lump, he or she will do more testing to determine what it is. Often a lump or enlargement is a simple infection or an enlarged prostate, both of which are treatable and not life-threatening.
Prostate Health
Your prostate health depends on many factors, some of which you control 1. One of the best things you can do is to get regular physical examinations, including prostate exams if you are considered to be at risk. Leading a balanced lifestyle and eating a healthy diet can also have a positive affect on your prostate health.
Related Articles
References
- New York State Department of Health: Prostate Cancer
- Mayoclinic.com: Prostate Cancer
- US Preventive Services Task Force, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al. Screening for Prostate Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement JAMA. 2018;319:1901-1913. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.3710
- Informed Health. How does the prostate work? Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Updated August 23, 2016.
- National Cancer Institute. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Updated October 4, 2017.
- National Institute on Aging. Prostate problems. National Institutes of Health. Updated July 01, 2016.
- Elkahwaji JE. The role of inflammatory mediators in the development of prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Res Rep Urol. 2012;5:1-10. Published 2012 Dec 31. doi:10.2147/RRU.S23386
- Burns JA, Weiner AB, Catalona WJ, et al. Inflammatory bowel disease and the risk of prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2019;75:846-852. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2018.11.039
- Ge Y, Shi Q, Yao W, Cheng Y, Ma G. The association between inflammatory bowel disease and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2020;23:53-58. doi:10.1038/s41391-019-0177-7
- Teerlink CC, Thibodeau SN, McDonnell SK, et al. Association analysis of 9,560 prostate cancer cases from the International Consortium of Prostate Cancer Genetics confirms the role of reported prostate cancer associated SNPs for familial disease. Hum Genet. 2014;133:347-356. doi:10.1007/s00439-013-1384-2
- Kani HT, Shen B. Male issues of the ileal pouch. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015;21(3):716-722. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000226
- Jung YS, Han M, Park S, Kim WH, Cheon JH. Cancer risk in the early stages of inflammatory bowel disease in Korean patients: A nationwide population-based study. J Crohns Colitis. 2017;11:954-962. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx040
Writer Bio
Leslie Lane has been writing professionally since 2007. Her areas of expertise include landscape and garden design; trees, shrubs and perennials; plant care; and plant pests and diseases. An education in landscape horticulture from Lansing Community College is paired with several years experience working for one of Michigan's premier wholesale/retail nurseries and growing farms.