HEALTH
E H T W O N K D N A S R O T ASSESS YOUR RISK FAC AND PROSTATE CANCER T S A E R B F O S M O T P M Y S
A cancer cell growing among healthy cells
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ccording to the Cancer Association of South Africa, more than 100 000 South Africans are diagnosed with cancer every year. One in six men will develop some type of cancer, while one in every eight women will be affected in their lifetime. It is important to note that cancer is not a death sentence. When it gets caught early and treated effectively, many patients go on to live long, healthy lives. However, not many people are aware of the risks and early symptoms of cancer, causing it to be diagnosed at a more progressed stage and making it difficult to treat effectively. To help South Africans understand their risk for developing cancer and to help them identify the early stages of the disease, let’s look at the risk factors and symptoms of two cancers affecting men and women. 50
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PROSTATE CANCER Prostate cancer is not only common among South African males, but is one of the leading cancers in men worldwide. Prostate cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of a normal prostate cell.
include a high fat intake, high red meat intake, low consumption of vegetables, obesity, lack of physical activity, and smoking. High alcohol intake (more than two alcoholic drinks per day) also raises a man’s risk for prostate cancer.
What are the risk factors?
Warning signs of prostate cancer include:
Some of the main risk factors for prostate cancer are:
• Difficulty or inability to pass urine; • A slow stream of urine, often with dribbling at the end; • Inability to start or stop the flow of urine; • Frequent need to pass urine, especially at night; • Swelling in legs; • Discomfort in pelvic area; • Lower back pain; • Blood in the urine or semen; • Painful ejaculation; and • Erectile dysfunction.
• Age: prostate cancer occurs more frequently in older men, and most men diagnosed are over 65 years of age. • Family history: there is often a history of a brother or father who had prostate cancer, and studies suggest the existence of a gene that raises one’s susceptibility to the disease. • Lifestyle: as with many cancers, diet and certain lifestyle factors have been linked to a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Factors
