Top 10 Causes of Prostate Cancer to Know

Many people ask what causes prostate cancer? Truth be told, cancer is the most dangerous type of disease killing millions of people globally.

More so, Prostate cancer in men results in cell division in the prostate gland uncontrollably that is very fatal.

This causes various impairments in the body that can lead to sudden death.

According to intensive research all over the world, Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men that kills millions of men yearly.

Therefore, it is very important to know the causes of prostate cancer and stay free from the risk factors.

So, what Causes Prostate Cancer?

The main cause of prostate cancer that leads to uncontrollable growth and cell division in men is not that very clear.

However, it begins when there is an abnormal cell division.

The Doctors says that mutations in the abnormal cells’ DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do.

What causes prostate cancer

Nevertheless, the developed cells due to this abnormality usually stay alive while other normal cell perishes.

These cells can cause tumors and other impairments to the neighborhood tissues.

Top 10 major  causes of prostate cancer

These factors can increase the chances of getting prostate cancer. They include:

1. Age 

Prostate cancer is common in old age men especially 50 years and above. According to various studies, prostate cancer increases as your age increases.

2. Genetics 

Inheritance of genes can cause prostate cancer.  studies show that parents with prostate cancer are likely to transfer to their offspring the same gene for cancer.

3. obesity can cause cancer

The overweight factor in men can lead to impairment and tumors.

Being that obesity is caused by abnormal cell division, the chances of developing cancer may be high.

Furthermore, diagnosed obese men from prostate cancer may develop fatal complications that may be difficult to treat.

4. Race can lead to cancer

With insufficient evidence, black men tend to be at higher risks as compared to other races.

In addition to that, for black men,  cancer seems to be aggressive or advanced compared to other races.

5. Poor nutrition

Food such as broiler chicken, broiler chicken is injected with harmful chemicals and antibiotics drugs to rapid their growth.

These chemicals are very harmful and can cause cancer. The excessive consumption of saturated fats is also harmful to your health.

Therefore, checking your diet is important, some meals that can increase your chances of getting prostate cancer.

6. Physical inactivity

Lack of physical exercise can increase the chances of getting prostate cancer.

A man needs to perform some aerobic exercise. That is why prostate cancer is common to elderly men because they do not do physical exercise.

7. Medication history

Individual medication background may increase your chances of developing cancer, especially reproductive organ conditions.

For instances, if you had a biopsy that found a tumor in your kidney, then you may have a high risk of prostate cancer.

8. Radiation exposure

Radiation therapy may as well increase your chances of developing prostate cancer.

For instance, if you received radiation treatments when you are a child or young adult, your risk of cancer is higher compared to an individual who has not gone through it.

9. Use of supplements

Supplements such as viagra, erection creams, lubricant products, and other oral supplements for harder erection are very harmful to your health and can cause cancer.

Always choose whole food over dietary supplements.

Related : Top 15 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Supplements

10. Alcoholic drinks

Drinking alcoholic fluids is very harmful to your health, the chemicals used can cause cancer(7)

For instance, a man who drinks excess alcohol and even to women who drink alcoholic fluids increases their risk of cancer.

Therefore, avoiding alcoholic drinks is the best option to prevent cancer.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

An early stage of this cancer may cause no symptoms.

However, advanced prostate cancer may cause the following signs and symptoms:

  • You may feel severe pain when you are urinating.
  • Low pressure and force in the stream of urine
  • The presence of blood in semen
  • Discomfort in the pelvic area, it can be itching.
  • You may feel weak and severe bone pain.
  • Erectile dysfunction

Prostate cancer complications

  • Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs

The mutation aspect can be very aggressive and can metastasize to organs near prostate gland such as the bladder, the lymphatic system to the bones, and other organs.

This can cause severe pain in the bones.

Causes of prostate cancer

  • Urinary incontinence

Treatment of prostate cancer may cause complication in the urinary tract.

Therefore, you can feel a decreased force in the stream of urine.

  • Erection complication

Failure to achieve a harder erection can be as a result of prostate cancer or its treatment.

Erectile dysfunction is common in elderly men. 

Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Currently, innovative research has fueled the use of new medications and treatment technologies to battle with cancer.

When prostate cancer is early detected, diagnosis and treatment, before the symptoms become serious, may lead to its cure.

Prostate cancer diagnosis usually starts with a thorough physical examination of the body and a complete medical background check.

Further laboratory test on a blood sample, urine, semen, and stool are done to detect any abnormalities that may indicate cancer.

In case a tumor is suspected, various medical checkups will be carried out.

They may include imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fiber-optic endoscopy examinations.

In addition, if a diagnosis is positive, then that indicates the presence of prostate cancer.

Some other tests are carried out to provide specific information about cancer also called staging.

The information gathered help the doctors to know the extent cancer has spread from one area of the body to another.

When the diagnosis is negative for cancer and symptoms persist, further tests may be carried out.

If the biopsy is positive for cancer, a confirming opinion by a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment is necessary before any treatment is made.

Here are major treatments of prostate cancer

  1.  Radiation therapy

It is the use of high-dose radiation to kill cancerous cells in the male reproductive organs.

Furthermore, doctors may use radiation to shrink a tumor before any surgery is done to reduce tumor-related symptoms.

       2.Chemotherapy

It aims to kill cancerous cells with medications that target rapidly dividing cells.

This type of medication help shrink tumors, however, the side effects can be severe and can lead to hair loss.

       3.Hormone therapy

This involves taking medications that change how reproductive hormones work.

Reproductive hormones perform a vital role during sexual intercourse, their failure to function properly may lead to erectile dysfunction.

        4. Precision medicine or personalized medicine

For prostate cancer checking genes may be done. This involves using genetic testing to check and identify the best treatments for cancer.

        5. Surgery

It is one of the common parts of a cancer treatment plan in case a person has a cancerous tumor.

For prostate cancer, a surgeon may remove lymph nodes to reduce or prevent the disease’s spread.

       6. Small-molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies

These are targeted therapies done to perform functions within cancerous cells to prevent them from multiplying.

They can also boost the immune system

     7. The checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell transfer

They are Immunotherapy that use medications and other treatments to boost the immune system and encourage it to fight cancerous cells

Here are 9 side effects of chemotherapy

The following are the side effects of chemotherapy;

  • Hair loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue,
  • An increased risk of developing an infection
  • It can result in infertility (if premenopausal),
  • Damage to the heart and kidneys
  • Nerve damage,
  • Very rarely, blood cell cancer.

Tips on how to prevent prostate cancer

It is very important to note that prevention is better than cure.

Therefore, take your time to keep off from the risks factors before it is too late.

Here are the tips to reduce your risk against prostate cancer.

How to prevent prostate cancer

    1. Regular exercise

Effective exercise can prevent prostate cancer.

Physical inactivity increases your risk of developing cancer.

Therefore, makes sure you perform some aerobic exercise at least two times a week.

More so, regular exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight, and improves your moods and brain functions.

exercise to prevent prostate cancer

Note: before starting exercise, especially when you are above 50 years old, you need to visit a nearby healthcare center for medical checkups.

    2. Well-balanced healthy diet

A healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables is all that you need.

Avoid saturated fats in your diet, processed and refined products.

Choosing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is the most appropriate food.

Processed food contains harmful chemicals that can rapidly cause cancer.

Eating a well-balanced diet does not mean including all the food types in your meal.

However, it means checking the correct amount of nutrients you eat.

It is very important to check the food labels and read it carefully, to ensure you avoid saturated fats and harmful substances in your diet.

    3. Avoid the use of supplements

A good number of people use protein shake and other dietary supplements to either reduce weight, gain weight, increase performance and other related gains.

However, these supplements may contain harmful chemicals like antibiotics that may increase your risk of cancer.

Therefore, you need to choose healthy foods and avoid the use of supplements.

   4. Maintain a healthy weight

Overweight and obesity increases your risk of prostate cancer and other common cancers.

Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy weight.

You can do this by checking your body mass index (BMI). After that, do some exercise at least two times a week.

If you need to lose weight, include weight lifting and cardio exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat every day.

You need to visit a healthcare professional for assistance on how to create a plan for healthy weight loss.

    5.  When to See a Doctor

If you may have the above-highlighted signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, please visit a doctor for consultation before it is too late.

This may reduce the risk of cancer.

The doctor can subject you to medication of other treatments to reduce their risks.

Last Remark

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. It causes cells to divide uncontrollably and may spread to nearby organs. A poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and genetic factors can increase its risk.

Always check on your diet and ensure that you eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. Stay active by maintaining regular exercise and body weight.

Aerobic and weight-lifting exercises are very important at least twice a week.