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Prostate Care Healthy Choice

Enlarged Prostate

The prostate is a gland which is located between your bladder and urethra (the tube for passing urine). Between one and three in every 10 men in their early 70s may exhibit symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:
     -- feeling that you have not completely emptied your bladder after urinating
   --   frequently waking up in the night to urinate
     --   urinating often during the day
     --   weak urine stream

An enlarged prostate can lead to urine infections. On rare occasions the passing of urine can be completely blocked. In some men the symptoms of an enlarged prostate go away on their own, while others may require medication.

If you find you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor as soon as you can.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is more common as age increases, and is usually found in men over 50. The causes of Prostate cancer are unclear but there is an increased risk if a close relative such as your father or brother have had it. Prostate cancer can press on the urethra and block the flow of urine. As a result you may have difficulty urinating, have to urinate more often, experience pain on passing urine or have blood in the urine. However, if you are having these symptoms there may be other causes which are not due to cancer.

Whether or not you have treatment depends on many factors including your age, general health, stage of the cancer and side-effects of the treatment. Prostate cancer is often slow growing, so in some older men the best treatment may be "watchful waiting" (no treatment). In other men, surgery, radiotherapy or hormone therapy may be considered.