Myths Are Better Left to the Ancient Greeks
If you were to ask a group of men about prostate cancer (aside from the wise crack remarks you`d most likely get), most of the responses would be common misconceptions of the disease that claims 32,000 lives of U.S. males each year. If knowledge is power then here is more power to you:
Myth #1: Prostate Cancer is an `old man`s disease`.
Reality: Yes, it is true that the older you are the more susceptible you become, however, 76,000 men each year (that`s 35% of those diagnosed) are younger than 65.
Myth #2: Prostate cancer progresses slowly so there is no need for immediate concern.
Reality: Sometimes this is the case, but with any cancer early treatment and detection is beneficial to prevent progression of the current cancer and to stop it from spreading to other places in the body.
Myth #3: Prostate cancer is one of the most symptomatic cancers.
Reality: Symptoms are often attributed to other things in your body. In the field of oncology prostate cancer is one of the most asymptomatic cancers out there; many times your body shows absolutely no symptoms.
Myth #4: There is no history of it in my family so the odds are in my favor.
Reality: Yes, having a family history can double the odds of a man being diagnosed with prostate cancer but the bottom line is that 1 out of 6 American men will be diagnosed regardless of their family medical history. The estimated cases in the U.S. alone could exceed 300,000 per year by 2015.
Myth #5: It is a communicable disease.
Reality: Unlike sexually transmitted diseases, prostate cancer is not infectious so it is impossible to pass it along to others.
Myth #6: Vasectomies can trigger prostate cancer.
Reality: The once was a widely held belief (operative word being was), but after being carefully researched it has not been shown to increase the chances men have for developing prostate cancer. This was once thought to be because men who have vasectomies are urged to be checked more often by their urologist, thus leading to higher chances of detection.
Myth #7: Treatments for prostate cancer causes impotence or erectile dysfunction.
Reality: Yes, these can be side effects but they are highly dependent on age and physical condition. If you do have these side effects there are numerous treatment options and you should speak to your oncologist about them.
Myth #8: Frequent ejaculations increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Reality: It was once thought that high amounts of sexual activity increased a man`s risk of prostate cancer, when in actuality some studies have shown that men who ejaculate more frequently have a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Myth #9: A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a cancer test.
Reality: Not a chance. While a PSA can indicate any number of problems such as prostatitis (inflammation or infection) or prostatic hyperplasia (benign enlargement of the prostate gland it does not detect the actual disease, rather it warns you for additional screening to be done.
There are many risk factors to consider. Your race, family history, physical health and lifestyle-even geographic location-are all factors that can increase your likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Do not be fooled by the stigmas and fallacies that surround this disease; it will only add to the confusion. Talk to your doctor or health care professional to get the facts and discuss your risk of developing prostate cancer.