Category: Prostate Cancer

Unfortunately, many men in America share common risk factors for prostate cancer. Out of 100 American men, 13 will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. The older a man becomes, the more his risk increases. Let’s dig deeper and discover the common causes and risk factors of prostate cancer.

What Are Your Risk Factors?

Anything that increases your chance of getting prostate cancer is known as a risk factor. However, having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean you will be affected by this form of cancer. At the same time, you can get the disease and have no risk factors. The benefit of knowing the risk factors for prostate cancer is that they can be used as warning signals that you should not overlook.

Your Age

Younger men rarely get prostate cancer. The majority of cases affect men over the age of 65. The incidence of prostate cancer is 1 in 10,000 for men under 40. For men between 40 and 59, the ratio rises to 1 in 38, and over the age of 69 it rises even further to 1 in 14.

The obvious conclusion is that as men age, they are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Men should see Board-certified urologist, William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM to be checked by age 65 or sooner.

Your Family History

If a close member of your family like a father, brother, or son had/has prostate cancer, your risk increases.

Your Ethnicity

It has been determined that African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than caucasian men. This particular demographic is also more likely to get it at an earlier age, and tend to have a higher amount of advanced cases when discovered. Lastly, African American men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than caucasian men.

Asian Americans and Latinos have less incidence of this cancer.

Your Location

It is true that researchers have discovered the following:

• Most cases of prostate cancer occur in North America, the Caribbean, Australia, and northwestern Europe.
• You are more likely to develop prostate cancer if you live north of 40° latitude, possibly due to lack of sunlight and consequently, a lack of Vitamin D.
• Asian American men have a low incidence, but Asians living in Asia are more at risk for prostate cancer.
• There are less cases in central and South America, Asia, and Africa.

Your DNA

Some men have defective or damaged genes that are more likely to cause cancer cell development. These mutated genes can be inherited or be what is known as acquired mutations. Some mutated genes turn off the tumor suppressor genes, leading them to suffer from fast-growing tumors that may be cancerous.

Your Diet

It is believed that a diet high in red meat and high-fat dairy is a risk factor for prostate cancer. In addition, people who eat such a diet do not usually eat sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits that contain vital cancer-fighting nutrients.

Other Possible Risk Factors or Causes

Studies have been conducted about other potential types of risk factors for prostate cancer, but the results have been unclear. Obesity, smoking, chemical exposure from the environment, and sexually transmitted infections have not conclusively been attributed as a risk for prostate cancer.

It is difficult to prove the exact cause of prostate cancer. Researchers usually point to the risk factors mentioned above as the most likely sources, but some patients may never be able to identify the true cause of their cancer. However, that does not mean that they cannot appropriately treat prostate cancer with the help of specialized physicians from William Brant, MD.

Early Detection

A small number of cancers are labeled as aggressive. Getting an early diagnosis of prostate cancer provides the best outlook for patients afflicted with this condition. Even if the diagnosis is made at a late stage, with treatment a patient can reduce or eliminate symptoms, slow down the growth of the tumor, and have a longer lifespan.

If you have any of the risk factors of prostate cancer, talk to Dr. William Brant, a recognized expert in men’s sexual health, about getting screened.

Seventy-five percent of men experience urinary incontinence immediately after having prostate surgery. There are specific reasons why this occurs, how long it will last, and ways to ameliorate the problem. What follows is a helpful guide to urinary control after prostate cancer surgery.

Types Of Incontinency

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urine and it sometimes occurs after surgery for the prostate.

Stress incontinence from stress on the bladder causes leaks when laughing, sneezing, coughing, or lifting heavy objects.

Urge incontinence is a sudden, unexpected urge to urinate, and it usually happens before you can make it to the bathroom.

Radical Prostatectomy

Surgery to remove the prostate gland due to cancer is known as a prostatectomy. This surgery carries a higher risk for urinary problems. During surgery the bladder is pulled down and connected to the urethra at the point where the prostate was originally situated.

When the prostate is removed, the surgeon also removes one of the valves outside that opens or closes to let urine out or keep it in. One valve is usually enough, but sometimes muscles and nerves affect the area and cause urine to leak.

Prognosis After Prostate Cancer Surgery

There are a number of scenarios once a man has prostate surgery. This is something to discuss with urologist William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM to determine your post-surgical expectations.

• The majority of men are eventually continent.
• Incontinence may resolve after 3 months and many men can live without pads or adult diapers. This is especially true of men who are between the ages of 40 and 60 and in overall good health.
• Incontinence will improve with time and normally resolves within one year.
• How long incontinence lasts depends on age, weight and the physical characteristics of the urethra.
• If incontinence has not improved after six months, surgical intervention may be recommended.

Treatments Post Surgery

If mild to moderate incontinence has not resolved, treatments are available.

They include therapies like exercises for pelvic floor muscles, and this along with medications can reduce the number of times a man wakes at night to urinate.

If incontinence has not resolved after one year, there are two surgeries available: the urethral sling and an artificial urinary sphincter.

Contact urologist William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM at (801) 965-2767 about your risk of having urinary incontinence after prostate cancer surgery.

Dr. William Brant joined Fresh Living on KUTV to discuss prostate cancer treatment options and the importance of an early diagnosis. Dr. Brant is proud to be a part of the Granger Summit Urology team who is partnering with Zero Prostate Cancer to help promote early detection and provide support to prostate cancer survivors and their families. You can watch the whole interview on KUTV’s website.

Prostate cancer has a high survival rate, and for most men, the treatment can completely eliminate the cancer.

However, although completing your cancer treatment is definitely a reason to celebrate, life after prostate cancer can be a little bit challenging.

The good news is that many of the side effects of surgery, hormones, and radiation therapy are temporary. Even if the side effects don’t go away on their own, there are other treatments and procedures medical professionals can recommend to increase your quality of life.

We asked our urology specialist, William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM, all about life after prostate cancer. Read on to find out what side effects you may experience, as well as what management therapies can counteract these side effects.

Side effects of radical prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy, or the surgical removal of the prostate gland, stops cancer from spreading. While this surgery is life-saving for many, it can pose some challenges throughout the recovery.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common side effect of prostate surgery, although typically it is mild or even goes away within a few months. If you’ve had your prostate removed, you may experience stress incontinence, which means you may leak urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.

Some people experience stress incontinence only in the first three months after the surgery, whereas others may experience it for longer and may benefit from pelvic floor exercises. If the urinary incontinence persists (for around 10% of men after prostatectomy), you also have the option of implanting a male sling[this should link to the sling portion of the website] or an artificial sphincter, depending on your situation and the severity of the incontinence.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is another common side effect of the surgery. All men who undergo a prostate removal will experience ED for at least a short period, due to nerve mobilization during the prostatectomy. However, if you experience persistent issues, Dr. Brant can determine which treatment method can best help you return to a healthy sex life.

He may recommend one or a combination of the following:

• Medications
• Penile injections
• Penile implants
• Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy
• Vacuum erection device (VED)

Side effects of radiation therapy

After completing radiation, you may see a change in your bowel movements anywhere between two to six weeks. You may also notice a burning sensation or other issues when you urinate, erection dysfunction, fatigue, and lymphedema (swelling around damaged lymph nodes).

Dr. Brant is here to help recommend the best treatment methods for your symptoms, with a focus on noninvasive treatment methods such as training exercises to strengthen specific muscles and lifestyle changes.  Side effects such as erectile dysfunction have many solutions that he can offer.

Side effects of hormone therapy

Androgens stimulate cancer cell growth, so many people undergoing cancer treatment also need androgen deprivation therapy.

However, when the production of androgens is partially blocked, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Weight gain
• Depression
• Hot flashes
• Low libido
• Growth in breast tissue (gynecomastia)
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Erectile dysfunction

The good news is that after you’re done with androgen deprivation therapy, your body may return to producing enough androgens on its own. Your age, lifestyle, and overall health play a role in how long it takes for your androgen production to normalize.

Learn more about life after prostate cancer

Beating prostate cancer is difficult enough. You shouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath of the treatments as well. Dr. Brant specializes in helping prostate cancer survivors get much-needed treatment for side effects related to urinary and sexual health.

Contact our Salt Lake City, Utah, office by calling 801-207-7922 or by sending a message on our website to learn how you can experience a smooth and healthy recovery after prostate cancer.