myths about
prostate cancer
Myth 1
Only older men
get prostate cancer
Myth 2
Prostate cancer always causes symptoms
Screening
tests are
never helpful
Myth 3
Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PsA) levels are always a sign of prostate cancer
Myth 4
Prostate
cancer is
never curable
Myth 5
Prostate cancer always requires immediate treatment
Myth 6
Myth 1: Only older men
get prostate cancer
Fact: Although the risk increases with age,
prostate cancer can also affect younger men.
Roughly 4 in 10 men who develop prostate cancer
are under 65. The condition is rare in men under 40,
but some young men, and even older adolescents,
develop it.
Prostate surgery always causes lasting erectile dysfunction and incontinence
Myth 7
Fact: In the early stages, prostate cancer often
causes no noticeable symptoms.
Many cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed through screening before symptoms develop. If you do have symptoms, make an appointment with a doctor.
Potential symptoms include frequent urination, blood in
urine or semen, unexplained weight loss, and more.
Myth 2: Prostate cancer always causes symptoms
Fact: In some cases, screening tests can help doctors diagnose prostate cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
Talk with your doctor to learn about the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening. To screen for prostate cancer, your doctor may order a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test or perform a digital rectal exam.
If the results are abnormal, your doctor will order
follow-up tests to confirm if you have prostate cancer
or another condition.
Myth 3: Screening tests
are never helpful
Fact: Multiple factors can increase PSA levels.
Men with prostate cancer often have elevated levels of PSA, which is a protein produced by prostate gland cells. However, other factors may cause elevated PSA, such as older age, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or prostatitis.
If you have elevated PSA, your doctor will order follow-up tests to determine the cause.
Myth 4: Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PsA) levels are always a sign of prostate cancer
Fact: Prostate cancer can often be cured when
it’s diagnosed and treated early.
Prostate cancer is highly treatable in the early stages
before it has spread to other parts of your body. Depending on your condition, your doctor might recommend one or more of the following treatments: surgery, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, and medication.
Myth 5: Prostate cancer
is never curable
Fact: In some cases, your doctor might recommend
active surveillance instead of treatment.
Your doctor will likely recommend treatment if you
develop prostate cancer when you’re young, if the cancer
is fast-growing, or if the cancer has already spread.
If the cancer is slow-growing and hasn’t spread or
caused symptoms, the side effects of treatment might outweigh the benefits. If you don’t get immediate treatment, your doctor will order regular testing and closely monitor
your cancer for signs of progression.
myth 6: Prostate cancer always requires immediate treatment
Fact: Prostate surgery doesn't always cause lasting
side effects.
Prostate surgery carries risks. It may cause nerve
damage that affects your ability to have an erection or
control your flow of urine.
Some types of prostate surgery are more likely than
others to cause these side effects. In some cases, these
side effects develop but get better over time.
Myth 7: Prostate surgery
always causes lasting erectile dysfunction and incontinence
7
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