How Does Prostate Cancer Affect the Male Urinary System?
As the name suggests, prostate cancer is a group of abnormal cells that grow and affect a man’s prostate. The cancer may affect other parts of the body, including the urinary system. And the affected urinary system will cause a number of consequences.
Prostate is a vital organ of men. It has crucial function to create fluids that maintain and transport sperm. Therefore when it is no longer to work optimal, this can affect the reproductive system. But since prostate cancer is more likely to occur in elderly men (older than 50-65 years of age), the issue of infertility is usually not the major concern.
How common is prostate cancer?
It is one of common cancers found in men, which is also the major health concern for men, though it is rare in men who younger than 50 years of age.
Worldwide, the statistics of this cancer varies. It is pretty rare in some countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia – but it is more common in elderly men of African-American (this group also has the highest statistic of death rate) [reference].
Like most things in cancer, early early detection of the disease will play a role for the prognosis and outcome of patients. At early stage, it is relatively easier to treat than when it is diagnosed at advanced stages.
The good news, most cases of this cancer in the U.S (about 85 percent) are now able to be diagnosed earlier before it becomes advanced.
The anatomy of prostate
Prostate, a walnut-sized gland organ is located between the penis and the bladder. Another important organ called rectum, is located in the back of prostate.
Between the penis and the bladder, a urethra lines through the center of the prostate. This urethra has crucial function to support the male urinary system, it is responsible to help regulate and let the urine flow out.
As written before, prostate is crucial for the male reproductive system. It is important to secretes fluids that nourish & protect the sperms.
A number of health conditions can affect the prostate, cancer is one them. Other health problems that often affect the way of prostate to work, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (often described as enlarged prostate) and prostatitis (a kind of inflammation that affects prostate).
So, how does the cancer of prostate affect the male urinary system? Keep reading!
The anatomy of male urinary system – how does it work?
The bladder and kidneys are two crucial organs to create urine and then waste it out. How do they work?
As well we know, kidneys have function to filter and clean the blood. It filters unnecessary things (including excess water and waste products) from blood which then turn them into urine.
Then urine is distributed to the bladder. There are some small tubes called ureters that line from the kidneys to the bladder. These tubes are vital to transfer urine from kidneys to bladder. In the bladder, the urine is temporarily stored.
From the bladder, urine is then distributed through a small tube called urethra. Once the urine enters urethra, it will be wasted when you pee.
From these explanations, it seems there is no a direct role of the prostate in regulating your urine cycle. But how does prostate cancer affect the way of your urinary system to work?
So, how does prostate cancer affect the male urinary system?
There is always a chance for all kinds of cancer to spread. And once they spread, there will be more complications you have.
Prostate cancer in early stage (when the abnormal cells of cancer are still completely in the site of primary origin, the prostate gland itself) may not significantly affect the urinary system. But …
Prostate cancer is scary.. it can attack anyone, particularly in older men – your risk increases as you age!
I am curious how to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Are there any steps we can do to prevent this fatal disease?
My husband,mid 80’s, is in middle of radiation treatment for aggressive prostate cancer and is experiencing excruciating pain at night when trying to sleep & feeling the urgency to urinate. It is finally relieved for awhile when he CAN urinate a bit. This goes on several times during the night. He calls the bit “morse code”-…..long and short spurts 🙂 The doc, when we beg for answer just writes another RX for Flo Max and suggests taking more Aleve. We has tried CBE oil and that does take the edge off, but still very painful.