Busting some common myths related to prostate

Renal Sciences | by CMRI | Published on 03/12/2021

Prostate related problems are very common in males, especially after they cross 55 years of age. It is due to this very reason that most men tend to associate any symptom related to the urinary tract with prostate problems. In the majority of the cases, the problem is related to BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition marked by the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The condition is marked by lower urinary tract symptoms that are progressive in nature. As per the best urologist in Kolkata, the problem affects about 50 per cent of men lying in the age group of 60 above.

Although the problem is very common, there are a lot of myths associated with it owing to the lack of proper knowledge. We have busted some of these myths in this blog with the help of experts from the best prostate and kidney hospital in Kolkata.

Myth 1 - You do not have prostate cancer if you are not experiencing the symptoms.

Reality - No doubt all diseases are characterized by their symptoms, it is quite possible that you can have a disease without experiencing its symptoms. The same holds for prostate cancer as well. The absence of symptoms does not mean that you do not have cancer and this is the reason why it is important to go for regular screenings irrespective of whether you are experiencing the symptoms or not. Not every person suffering from prostate cancer is bound to experience the symptoms. You must be wondering how it is possible that benign prostatic hyperplasia usually comes with symptoms while prostate cancer does not. Well, the explanation is very simple. In patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is the transitional zone of the prostate that is affected whereas, in the case of prostate cancer it is the peripheral zone. As the transitional zone serves as the passage for urine, any abnormality in it is likely to affect your urine output. However, this is not the case with prostate cancer. It is important to note that prostate cancer and metastasize to other parts of the body where it can trigger several symptoms.

Myth 2 - You should not be concerned about benign prostatic hyperplasia if you do not experience any significant change in the size of your prostate.

Reality - People usually tend to judge the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia by the size of their prostate, and think that the problem will not cause any serious complication if left untreated. It is due to this very reason that many men choose to live with the problem instead of seeking the right treatment. Some tend to refrain from seeking proper medical help even if they are experiencing mild symptoms. This may not seem to create any problem initially but as time passes by it can lead to the weakening of the bladder muscles resulting in a condition called neurogenic bladder. This means that your bladder becomes dysfunctional making you more vulnerable to problems like stones, urinary tract infections and urinary retention.

Myth 3 - You cannot do anything to prevent/treat benign prostatic hyperplasia

Reality - There is a common misconception that all men develop benign prostatic hyperplasia as they age. This is completely false as you can develop the problem at any age, though the risks are likely to increase as you grow old. Most men have already developed the problem before they reach 60 years of age, however, they start showing symptoms after crossing this age bar. You can alleviate the risks of the same with healthy lifestyle choices, and even if you have been detected with the same, there are various treatment options available nowadays. If you wish to explore options consult a urologist from the best multispeciality hospital in Kolkata today.

By far, we have busted three common myths related to the prostate. Stay tuned to bust some more myths with our experts in the next blog.