Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Often, it grows slowly and is caught early. Even if prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate, there are still treatment options available. Early detection makes a big difference.
It’s a time to focus on men’s health and raise awareness about this common cancer. Mostly, PSA numbers are discussed, but the truth is that prostate health is much bigger than a single test.
That is why at Kairos Integrative Care, we help men understand early risks and take practical steps to protect their health.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Your prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland just below your bladder. It plays an important role in your reproductive system by helping make semen, the fluid that carries and nourishes sperm.
Prostate cancer can start in this gland. Most of the time, it grows slowly, and many men catch it before it spreads to other parts of the body.
For every 100 men, 13 will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. As you get older, your prostate can change, from enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia) to cancer.
In some cases, this cancer can grow faster and spread to other parts of your body. That’s when it becomes more serious.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Prostate cancer often grows slowly, so you might not experience anything at first. But as it progresses, some changes in your body can appear. It’s very important to pay attention and talk to your healthcare doctor if you see anything unusual.
You should watch for the following signs:
- You are peeing more often, especially at night
- Weak urine flow
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- Pain or a burning feeling when you pee
- Blood in your urine or semen
- Pain in your lower back, hips, or chest
- Trouble controlling your bladder or bowels
- Difficulty in controlling your bladder or bowels
These prostate cancer symptoms can overlap with less serious conditions like prostate enlargement, which is why proper testing and evaluation are crucial.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
The PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test is the most common way to screen for prostate cancer. But it’s just the starting point of your diagnosis. It doesn’t tell the full story.
Many people don’t realize that:
- A high PSA doesn’t always mean you have cancer.
- A normal PSA doesn’t always mean everything is fine.
- PSA levels can rise for many reasons, like infection, inflammation, or even recent ejaculation.
Your doctor often combines PSA results with a physical exam, imaging tests, and sometimes a biopsy to get a clearer picture.
At Kairos, we go further. We look at your hormones, inflammation, energy levels, weight, and lifestyle factors. This helps us give you a full understanding of your health, not just a basic lab number.
Further Prostate Cancer Tests and Diagnosis
If your PSA results or symptoms show something unusual. Your healthcare provider may order more tests such as:
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): In this examination, your doctor gently inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel your prostate. Any bumps or hard areas could be a sign of cancer.
- Imaging: Imaging tests like an MRI or transrectal ultrasound are done to show detailed pictures of your prostate. These images help your doctor spot suspicious areas and decide if a further biopsy is needed.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is the only way to confirm prostate cancer. During this procedure, a small tissue sample is taken from the prostate. This sample shows if cancer is present and how aggressive it is.
Prostate cancer is easily curable especially when it is found early. If it’s still in the prostate, more than 80% of people survive. That’s why early testing and detection matter so much.
Causes and Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer
Researchers don’t know exactly what causes prostate cancer. What we do know is that it happens when changes occur in the DNA of your prostate cells. Sometimes these changes are inherited, which means you’re born with them.
Following are the factors that may increase your risk:
- Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as you age. Its most cases happen in men over 50.
- Your Genes: If prostate cancer runs in your family, you may have a chance to get it in future.
- Hormonal imbalances like changes in testosterone or other hormones
- Poor diet that has high fat and processed foods
- Having a BMI over 30 or being overweight
- Ongoing inflammation in the prostate can increase your risk.
- Exposure to Agent Orange: Men that are exposed to this chemical (used in the Vietnam War) have higher risk.
- Smoking
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
How to Prevent Prostate Enlargement and Cancer?
You can’t control things like your age and your genes. But there are plenty of steps you can take today to keep your prostate healthy:
- Keep your weight in check. Extra body fat can cause inflammation and hormone imbalances that increase risk.
- Move your body most days. Aim for about 150 minutes of activity each week and include some strength exercises to support hormone balance.
- Stay sexually active. This can maintain healthy hormone levels and prostate function.
- Eat prostate-friendly foods like tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, fatty fish, green tea, and soy. These may help keep your PSA levels lower.
- Avoid red and processed meats, high-fat dairy, and sugary foods, which can increase your risk.
- Focus on healthy fats. Reduce trans fats and saturated fats.
- Get your omega-3s from nuts, seeds, and fish.
- Limit dairy. Too much milk, cheese, or yogurt may raise prostate cancer risk.
- Get enough vitamin D through sunlight, wild salmon, cod liver oil, or supplements.
- Don’t smoke as smoking can increase inflammation and cancer risk.
- Keep an eye on your hormone levels like testosterone, estrogen, and DHT with your doctor.
- Get regular PSA tests and prostate exams to catch any issues early.
At Kairos Integrative care in Houston, we help you understand these steps and create a plan to protect your prostate and overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Live Without a Prostate?
Yes, you can. Many men live normal and healthy lives after having prostate removal surgery (prostatectomy),. But surgery can bring many side effects like trouble controlling urine or changes in sexual function. That’s why taking care of your prostate and cancer awareness is very crucial.
How to avoid prostate cancer?
There’s no 100% guarantee. But a healthy lifestyle, clean eating, stress management, and regular checkups can reduce your risk.
Does ejaculation prevent prostate cancer?
Some research shows that men who ejaculate more often, about 20 times a month, may have a slightly lower risk. It can help, but it’s just one part of keeping your prostate healthy.
What’s the Best Prostate Supplement?
Many men want a supplement to support urinary health and prostate function. Supplements like saw palmetto, zinc, and lycopene may help with that but always check with your provider before starting anything new.
Bottom Line
Your prostate health is too important to ignore. That is why at Kairos, we look beyond numbers. We look at your testosterone balance, any prostate cancer symptoms, weight and metabolism, energy and fatigue, stress, and toxin exposure.
This month, we’re offering a $25 Men’s Health Consult, which includes a PSA review and guidance on clean wellness for testosterone, weight, and fatigue.
We combine functional medicine with primary care in Houston, Sugar Land, and Richmond, Texas. Major insurance plans like Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, and Cigna are accepted.
If you can’t make it to the clinic, telemedicine visits are available anywhere in Texas.
