Transcript of
Prostate enlargement animation
Prostate Enlargement
Prostate enlargement and prostate cancer
are two common conditions that affect men.
In both cases, it is the prostate,
a small gland in the pelvis that is affected.
Let's look inside the body to learn more about this gland.
The prostate is only found in men.
It's about the size of a walnut
and lies inside the pelvis underneath your bladder.
It surrounds the urethra, a thin tube that carries urine from the bladder,
through the penis where it leaves the body.
The prostate produces and stores a thick fluid,
which is a major part of semen.
As you grow older, your prostate may get bigger.
This is known as prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH.
It is still not fully understood why the prostate enlarges with age,
but growth hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen
undoubtedly play some role.
This condition is not dangerous, but may affect urination
as the enlarged prostate squeezes your urethra.
In some men, treatment is needed to alleviate symptoms.
Having prostate enlargement does not increase your risk
of developing prostate cancer.
However, some of the symptoms may be similar.
So it's important to see your doctor if you notice changes in urination.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men,
with most cases developing in men aged 65 and over.
It occurs when cells in your prostate multiply abnormally and form a tumour.
Prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly.
It can take up to 15 years for the cancer to spread beyond the prostate
and initially you may not experience any symptoms.
However, as the tumour grows,
cancer cells may spread to the surrounding tissue,
lymph nodes and bones.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer,
your team of doctors will discuss treatment plans with you.
The type of treatment recommended will depend on your age,
the likely progression and stage of your cancer
and possible side effects of treatment.
Treatment is not always needed,
and periods of active surveillance or watchful waiting may be recommended
to see how the cancer develops.
Prostate cancer can be cured when treated
before it spreads to the surrounding areas.
Treatments include prostate removal, hormone therapy
and external or internal radiotherapy.
Treatment can cause side-effects including loss of sexual desire,
erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
The outlook for prostate cancer that has not spread is generally good.
And in many cases it won't affect your natural lifespan.