Prostate Conditions

The prostate gland is only present in men and wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. Senior citizens are more likely to experience problems with the prostate as it enlarges over time. Some men will experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate. It is important that senior citizens and their caregivers be familiar with the signs of a prostate condition and seek appropriate treatment.

Men are encouraged to talk to their doctor about a possible prostate condition if they:

• Have the urge to urinate frequently
• Have to get up multiple times at night to urinate
• Have blood in the urine or semen
• Have painful or burning urination
• Cannot urinate
• Experience painful ejaculation
• Experience stiff lower back, hips, pelvic or rectal area, or thighs
• Experience dribbling of urine

Types of Prostate Conditions

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Many male senior citizens experience something known as BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia which is enlargement of the prostate without the presence of cancer. Symptoms often include difficulty with urination. While some men opt to wait and monitor an enlarged prostate, doctors can also employ medications that shrink or relax the prostate, surgeries that can address the complications with urination, or certain types of radiation that have been shown to relieve symptoms.

Acute Prostatitus. Prostate issues can also be caused my acute prostatitus, a bacterial infection marked by the sudden onset of fever, chills, and pain in the lower back and legs. If this type of infection occurs over and over again, it could be a sign of chronic bacterial prostatitus.

Abacterial Prostatitus or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Another condition known as chronic abacterial prostatitus or CPPS (Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome) occurs in young to middle-aged men. This condition is marked by pain in the lower back, between the legs, or on the tip of the penis. This can cause painful ejaculation or frequent urination. Although some cases respond to antibiotics, this disease is typically difficult to treat.

Prostate Cancer. Another common issue is prostate cancer, which if detected early, can be treated effectively. Prostate cancer is especially common in men who are African American and senior citizens over the age of 65. There is also evidence that prostate cancer runs in families, but risk may also be influenced by poor diet (one high in fat) and previous prostate problems.

A way to detect prostate cancer early for treatment is to get regular PSA testing (an antigen in the blood associated with prostate problems). This type of testing is effective for finding cancer at its earliest stages when it has not yet manifested into physical symptoms.