Health Matters

This is one for the chaps who really need to sit up, take notice and find out what their prostate is all about! I had a 72 year old patient recently complaining of a long history of low back pain together with urinary incontinence and when asked if he had consulted his GP to have his prostate checked, his reply was that he thought it was only women who had one! This, I have to say, has not been the first time I have encountered this situation and I am sure it will not be the last.

As Chiropractors, we specialise in a multitude of various low back problems. Unfortunately, one or two cases in men will present each year with low back pain that can be attributed to the spread of prostate cancer through the spine, pelvis and hips. Yet, in a vast majority of cases, early detection has an excellent long-term outcome. In 2004, 35,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and it accounted for 1/4 of all cancer cases diagnosed in men.
Occurrence: - strongest risk factor for prostate cancer is age, with very low risk in men under the age of 50, but risk increasing with age thereafter (refer to bar chart).
Risk: - Men with one or more first-degree relatives (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease, especially if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 60.
Symptoms: - The location of the prostate means enlargement often causes urinary tract obstruction. Difficulty urinating, more frequent urination and occasionally blood in the urine can occur. Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) is a non-cancerous condition that can cause similar symptoms. However, prostate cancer is often symptom free and men with more advanced disease may present with pain from widespread metastases (spreading of cancer cells from one part of the body to another), especially with low back pain.

Treatment: - There are three screening tests available but checking for prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in the blood is the most reliable. If the PSA is raised, Bone and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans followed by prostate biopsies are taken to assess the disease. Removal of the prostate, hormone therapy or simply 'watch and see' are all treatment options.

Final Word: - The main thing to remember is that if in doubt, speak to your Chiropractor or GP about what to do. Do not be worried or embarrassed, ask questions and get yourself checked out.

If you would like more information please feel free to telephone, e-mail or write to me in confidence at the Practice. In the meantime, keep your questions coming. Michael I'Anson
Creative Chiropractic, Lees Yard, HOLT on (01263) 715522,
e-mail at: michael@creativechiropractic.co.uk or check the website: www.creativechiropractic.co.uk