Charles III does not have prostate cancer. That's all we know about the royal cancer patient's condition at this point.
But as the news spread around the world this week, doctors say it could have health benefits.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke to several cancer doctors at Emory's Winship Center and Piedmont Healthcare. Both men stressed that they had nothing to do with King Charles' treatment and that any speculation was pure speculation. But for ordinary patients, this incident reminded them of some facts and tips.
Doctors say the biggest piece of advice for men with signs of prostate disease is to stop putting up with the inflammation and get tested.
“Some men are reluctant to bring this up to their doctors,” said Dr. Martin Sanda, director of urology at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute. “The key is to resolve the issue early.”
Some questions and answers about prostate health:
Q: What is the prostate?
A: The prostate is a male organ located in the pelvis that helps produce semen. The urethra, the tube that carries fluid from the bladder to the penis, also passes through the prostate.
Q: Buckingham Palace reported that Charles III had an enlarged prostate but did not have prostate cancer. What's the difference?
A: A man's prostate usually grows larger as he ages. Unlike cancer, this enlarged prostate usually grows regularly. Just because the prostate is dilated, the enlarged prostate may begin to press against the urethra, making it difficult to urinate.
In contrast, when the prostate becomes cancerous, those growing cells can grow in ways that destroy the organ's natural tissue, damaging or stopping its function.
If a man has an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, difficulty urinating can be a symptom of either.
Q: Do you have any urinary problems? Why not make it stricter?
A: Enlarged prostate is common but treatable.
“If[prostate enlargement]becomes a problem, there are two types of drugs and some surgeries that can help it,” said Dr. Walter Curran, chief of Piedmont Oncology at Piedmont Healthcare. “And it seems like at some point King Charles opted for surgery,” Curran surmised. “And most of them are very effective.”
The most important reason to get tested for difficulty urinating is that it can be a sign of prostate cancer. If this happens, early detection can be of great help. In any case, whether the condition is benign or cancerous, seeing a doctor can help patients resolve the issue and get them on the path to a better life.
Q: How should men decide which specialist to see?
A: When faced with urinary problems, Sanda said, start with the basics. “The first point of contact is actually your primary care physician.” They will assess the situation and may start with medication and tests. If that doesn't work, the patient may be referred to a urologist.
Q: Wait. King Charles has cancer. But he doesn't have prostate cancer. However, he was hospitalized due to prostate disease. Huh?
A: Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that “another concerning issue was identified during the King's recent inpatient surgery for an enlarged prostate.” After “subsequent examination,'' he was diagnosed with some kind of cancer.
But that doesn't mean it was noted by the pathologist who sifted through his prostate tissue in the lab. Perhaps it was noticed because King Charles said that a completely different part of his body hurt. No one said that.
However, some cancers are discovered by chance in the lab after patients have gone home after surgery for enlarged prostates and scientists are examining cells in specimens. These cancers can include various forms of bladder cancer, which can be completely cured.
Q: Why is prostate cancer so common?
A: Sanda compared this phenomenon to breast cancer. “You can also ask a broader question: 'Why are these secondary reproductive organs so prone to cancer?'” Sanda says. “I don't actually know the answer to that.”
Q: Do you have any other advice to lower my chances of getting prostate cancer?
A: Please don't smoke. Eat healthy.
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