Article Analysis: Prostate Cancer Screening Saves Life

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Health screening – prostate
Dr Aisha Bhaiyat
Up until now, I have been recommending and writing about how screening for cancers saves lives. In this article, I will not recommend screening for prostate cancer. Instead, I will give you the information to make an informed decision as to whether or not prostate cancer screening is for you.
Firstly, if you’re female then prostate screening is definitely not for you. The prostate is a gland only found in men. It sits at the base of the bladder, surrounding the tube that empties the bladder when urinating. This tube is called the urethra. The prostate produces a fluid that bathes and protects sperm in semen. It is normal for the prostate to get bigger as men age. Sometimes, as the prostate enlarges it can impinge upon the urethra and this can result in problems with passing urine. This type of non-cancerous enlargement is very common and can be found in men over the age of 50. However, the prostate can also develop a cancer.
Although prostate cancer is a common type of cancer and can kill, it is different to most other types of cancer. It is very common in older men and may not grow or cause any problems for many years, if ever. And more men live with prostate cancer than die of it. However, prostate cancer screening does exist and can save lives.
Prostate cancer screening …show more content…

This means that two-thirds of men having prostate cancer screening are put through unnecessary worry and tests which may carry complications. Additionally, even if there is a prostate cancer, there is no way of knowing which of these patients will go onto having problems due to the cancer and which will remain unaffected by the disease. Some men with a slow growing prostate cancer that was never going to cause any problems in first place may be subjected to cancer treatments they do not need. Risks are associated with such treatments, for instance incontinence and sexual

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