BPH and Prostate Cancer

BPH and Prostate Cancer
A man who has BPH may also have undetected prostate cancer at the same time or may develop prostate cancer in the future. Therefore, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society recommend that all men over 50 consult their physicians about having a digital rectal exam and PSA blood test once a year to screen for prostate cancer. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40. More than half of men in their 60s have some symptoms of BPH. As many as 80 to 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s have some symptoms of BPH. One theory is this condition is associated with a decrease in testosterone levels as men age which the body then interprets as an increase in estrogen. This in turn may stimulate cell division, especially of the prostate resulting in enlargement. Regardless of the reason, if left untreated, potentially the prostate can enlarge to such a degree that urination becomes next to impossible. In this event, urinary bladder damage as well as an increased risk of bladder and kidney infection becomes increasingly problematic. Preventative maintenance works extremely well in this situation and should be considered by all men over the age of 40.