Prostate Cancer Development Risk Factors
Prostate cancer is a severe medical condition that affects all male populations. According to the CDC (2023), every male is at risk of developing this type of cancer since it affects a part of the male reproductive system. Three risk factors contribute to its development: age, race, and genetic predisposition (CDC, 2023).
In terms of the former, the explanation is relatively straightforward: the chance of a positive prostate cancer diagnosis increases with age. This is because the prostate tends to grow in size as an organism ages, leading to narrowing of the urethra and decreased urine flow (CDC, 2023). In terms of race, African American males are more vulnerable to the disease. Not only are they more likely to get it compared to other men, but their condition tends to be more severe, and, thus, the respective death rates are higher (CDC, 2023). Finally, genetic history can also be the cause of an increased risk of prostate cancer development due to the high chance of poor gene inheritance.
First-Line Treatment in a Non-Severe BPH Case
BPH is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition different from prostate cancer. Although it also implies the enlargement of the prostate, it is not cancerous (NIH, n.d.). In general, only severe cases of BPH require purposeful medical intervention (NIH, n.d.).
When BPH symptoms are mild or less and do not affect a man’s daily life or preferences, regular urologist check-ups and some lifestyle changes are sufficient (NIH, n.d.). However, once the symptoms surpass the mild level, first-line treatment in the form of medications has to be started to either prevent the prostate from growing or shrink it. In this context, alpha blockers and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors belong among the most common options (NIH, n.d.). The former relaxes the prostate muscles and bladder neck to improve urine flow, whereas the latter targets the muscles of the lower urinary tract.
References
CDC. (2023). Prostate cancer.
NIH. (n.d.). Prostate enlargement (Benign prostatic hyperplasia).