• About six in 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men 65 and older. It is rare in men under 40.
• Report changed urinary habits to a doctor quickly. If untreated, kidney problems and kidney failure are possible.
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Men are urged to get regular prostate checkups, especially if they are elderly, to prevent cancer, urinary track and kidney problems.
The optimum age to start with a blood test is 40 to 54 if there is prostate cancer in your family or you have African heritage.
Worldwide, there has been an increase in early onset prostate cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 40.
About six in 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men 65 and older. It is rare in men under 40. The average age of first diagnoses is about 67.
Kidney problems and potential cancer are treatable and curable if detected early.
The prostate gland is a small, walnut-shaped organ below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It creates fluids in the semen and forces semen through the urethra during ejaculation. It gets larger as men age, which is normal.
Resident surgeon at AIC Litein Kericho Annex Clinic Dr Philip Blasto advised men age 50 and older to recognise the symptoms to prevent developing enlarged prostate problems referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). That can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones and in extreme cases kidney failure.
“The older a man becomes, the higher probability the prostate will become bigger. At age 50, most men have enlarged prostates, making it difficult to urinate and, in rare cases, it can prevent urination entirely. BPH is a common prostate issue in people over 50 years old. This refers to a prostate that is enlarged but not cancerous.
Urinary retention requires urgent medical intervention, Dr Blasto said.
Symptoms of BPH include waking up in the night to urinate frequently, trouble controlling the bladder inability to empty the bladder completely, a weak urine stream or dribbling at the end of urinating and complete inability to urinate.
“The risk factors of developing an enlarged prostate include family history, age in which men in their 50s have a high likelihood of developing the condition, obesity, cardiovascular problems, Type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction,” the medic said.
He said the hospital was managing around 100 patients per month from Kericho and Bomet counties with enlarged prostate, an indicator the ailment was rampant in the two counties.
“Early diagnosis can be important as early treatment can minimise the effects of BPH. We are providing weekly treatment to 30 to 40 men with an enlarged prostate,” Blasto said.
The medic said interventions include medications to relax muscles around the prostate and bladder and stop the growth of the prostate, shrink it and reduce BPH symptoms.
Surgery may be necessary. Lifestyle changes include reducing the intake of fluids before sleeping, transurethral methods that involve feeding a thin tube through the urethra.
He said it was important to report a change in urinary habits to a doctor quickly to avoid developing BPH symptoms. If left untreated, a patient will develop kidney problems and possible kidney failure.
The kidney can no longer remove waste from the bloodstream. When the prostate is enlarged, it can compress the urethra and interfere with the flow of urine resulting to urine not leaving the body, contributing to renal failure,” Blasto said.