Six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy recently revealed he has terminal prostate cancer.
Amid Hoy’s diagnosis, experts are urging men to keep an eye out for an easily missed sign of prostate cancer that could lead to early detection and life-saving intervention.
The 48-year-old retired cyclist – Britain’s second most decorated Olympian – shared his health update during an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times published on Saturday night.
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body or metastasizes, it can become deadly and usually moves to the bones, lungs, lymph nodes, liver or brain.
In Hoy’s case, the primary cancer in his prostate has metastasized to his bones, with tumors developing in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs.
Located below the bladder, the primary function of the prostate gland is to produce and ejaculate sperm.
Prostate problems can manifest as urinary symptoms, including an urgent need to urinate and/or difficulty starting a steam, poor flow, or straining.
In addition to urinary symptoms, the presence of blood in the urine or semen should be addressed immediately with a doctor.
Signs that advanced prostate cancer has spread include bone and back pain, weight loss, testicular pain and loss of appetite, according to the Daily Mail.
Prostate cancer is driving a cancer epidemic, with 10% of new diagnoses in the US occurring in men under the age of 55 and prostate cancer deaths expected to increase by 136% from 2022 to 2050.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of male cancer after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is usually not fatal — in part because it is usually slow-growing, often low-grade, and many treatment options are available.
As with all cancers, early detection and early-stage treatment are critical to survival.
Treatment for prostate cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, or targeted drug therapy.
According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but only one in 39 (or 2.6%) will die from it.
Experts say that while frequent urination can be a cause for concern, frequent urination can be a preventative measure.
A study from Harvard University found that men who ejaculated 21 times a month, either from masturbation or intercourse, were 31% less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who ejaculated only four to seven times a month.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include obesity, family history, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and height above average, according to the NIH, which also notes that diets high in saturated fat and dairy products may contribute. in prostate cancer and may increase the risk of recurrence once diagnosed.
Currently, there is no standard test to screen for prostate cancer.
If symptoms are reported, a doctor may draw blood for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which checks for hormone levels that are found in higher amounts if there are problems with the prostate.
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