Prostate cancer symptoms: The ‘unusual’ sign you should never ignore
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland.
The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.
According to the NHS, symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).
This can disrupt men’s toilet habits.
The semen may be blood stained
According to the NHS, blood in semen can also signify the disease.
“The semen may be blood stained, brownish-red in colour or have a pink tinge,” explained the health body.
According to the Mayo Clinic, severe or recurrent blood in semen in men age 40 and older might be a warning sign of prostate cancer but it is rare.
“In follow-up studies of men, mostly over 40, who had blood in their semen, prostate cancer developed in between four and six percent of participants,” noted the health body.
As the NHS explained, a GP will try to determine whether the cause of the blood in a person’s semen is likely to be serious or not.
They’ll need to consider a number of things, such as:
- How many times a person has noticed blood in their semen
- Whether they have any other symptoms
- Their age
- Their medical history
More common symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied
Adhering to a healthy diet can help to reduce a person’s risk of developing the disease.
A study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that a diet low in fat and red meat and high in fruits and vegetables is beneficial in preventing and treating prostate cancer.
Specifically, consumption of tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, green tea, and vitamins including Vitamin E and selenium seemed to propose a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
As the Prostate Cancer Free Foundation explained: “Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, cabbage and kale contain high levels of sulforaphane and indole-3 carbinol, which possess anticarcinogenic properties.
“These nutrients can induce the production of antioxidant enzymes that can protect cells from oxidative damage.”
Consumption of highly processed or charcoaled meats, dairy products, and fats seemed to be correlated with prostate cancer, noted the study.
“Although not conclusive, results suggest that general dietary modification has a beneficial effect on the prevention of prostate cancer,” the authors conclude.
They added: “In patients with prostate cancer, dietary therapy allows patients to be an active participant in their treatment.”
Healthy eating can also help a person to maintain a healthy weight. As Prostate Cancer UK reported, growing research suggests that being overweight may increase a person’s risk of aggressive or advanced prostate cancer.
The charity added: “You can’t change your age, ethnicity or family history, but you can take control of your diet and weight.”
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