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Both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are characterized by an enlarged prostate and are accompanied by a variety of urinary symptoms. The early symptoms of these two conditions are fairly similar and include increased urinary frequency, both during the day and during the night, as well as dribbling and urinary hesitancy. That said, many individuals with prostate cancer do not experience any symptoms at all. PSA levels are another interesting factor since both BPH and prostate cancer are characterized by elevated PSA levels. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, which is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland.<\/p>\n
Taking a closer look at prostate cancer, this is the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States, after non-melanoma skin cancer. It typically affects the lateral lobes of the prostate gland, although other parts of the prostate can be affected as well. In some instances, prostate cancer spreads to the bones, particularly those around the pelvic area. Treatment depends on the aggressiveness of the tumor and the overall health of the individual, but often includes radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, and close monitoring.<\/p>\n
Risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer include age, family history, tobacco use, and obesity. For instance, individuals with a family history of prostate issues or testicular abnormalities are at an increased risk for BPH, while those with a family history of prostate cancer have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer themselves. In terms of age, both conditions tend to develop in older men, and cases in men below the age of 40 are extremely rare.<\/p>\n
As for what causes benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, researchers have yet to determine the exact reason that either BPH or prostate cancer develops, but the belief is that benign prostatic hyperplasia has to do with the effect of aging on male sex hormones, while prostate cancer has to do with the uncontrolled growth of prostate cancer cells. Moreover, BPH does not seem to increase an individual\u2019s risk of developing prostate cancer later in life.<\/p>\n
While prostate cancer is a cancerous disease that may spread to other parts of the body, benign prostatic hyperplasia is not cancerous and does not spread to different cells. In addition, BPH usually affects the central portion of the prostate, rather than the sides of the prostate, or lateral lobes. Lastly, elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase can indicate prostate cancer but not benign prostatic hyperplasia, since cancer can cause the release of ALP into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n
Treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer depends on a number of factors. For BPH, these factors include the age of the sufferer, the size of the prostate, and the symptoms that are present. For prostate cancer, factors include the age of the sufferer, the aggressiveness of the tumor, and the overall health of the patient. Sufferers of BPH will typically be treated with medications, dietary changes, and surgery. Dietary changes may include avoiding caffeine and alcohol, while surgery may be a transurethral resection of the prostate or a simple prostatectomy. In contrast, sufferers of prostate cancer will typically be treated with active surveillance, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/a-comparison-of-prostate-cancer-and-bph-2782160<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.lifespan.org\/centers-services\/minimally-invasive-urology-institute\/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph-and-prostate<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are characterized by an enlarged prostate and are accompanied by a variety of urinary symptoms. The early symptoms of these two conditions are fairly similar and include increased urinary frequency, both during the day and during the night, as well as dribbling and urinary hesitancy. That said, many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" The effects of getting shingles can run the gamut from unpleasant to agonizing. Some people experience mild symptoms that run their course without too much fanfare yet others experience the type of pain that is comparable to having kidney stones and yet others suffer from a wide range of complications.<\/p> Even people who appear to recover completely from a shingles attack can have something called post-post-herpetic neuralgia. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is the most common complication of shingles, and the risk of getting it increases with age. [i]<\/a><\/p> Post-herpetic neuralgia is pain that lingers for months or even years to decades after the shingles rash has resolved. This pain can be deep and aching and feel like it burns and stabs. It can make your skin so hypersensitive to touch that even the weight of clothing or a sheet feels too much. Itching and numbness can also persist for many years in the affected area.<\/p> There are two groups of people that have worst-case shingles scenarios but they have a common condition \u2013 immunodeficiency or a weakened immune system.<\/p> In the elderly, this is called immunosenescence, which relates to the general decline in immune function found in people as they age. The older you are, the more likely it is you will get shingles, and the more likely it is that shingles will result in complications.<\/p> The other group is made up of those who have a compromised immune system due to things like AIDS, cancer, chemotherapy and radiation treatment, an organ transplant, or the ingestion of drugs that affect the immune system. In these circumstances, shingles can be life-threatening.<\/p> There is a slew of other complications involved with shingles:<\/p> Shingles also have psychological effects. It can make you feel anxious, depressed, and self-conscious, especially if it is visible on your face. This can interfere with your social life and contribute to sleeplessness.<\/p> The pain from active shingles and from postherpetic neuralgia\u00a0can be so agonizing that some people feel suicidal. The pain can become a permanent, life-altering reality if nerves have been damaged. According to an article in the New York Times: \u201cAt least 50 percent of postherpetic neuralgia patients develop clinical depression\u201d.[iv]<\/a><\/p> [i]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/postherpetic-neuralgia\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20376588<\/p> [ii]<\/a> https:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/shingles_herpes_zoster\/article.htm#what_are_complications_of_shingles_part_3<\/p> [iii]<\/a> https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2664599\/<\/p>Post-herpetic Neuralgia<\/h2>
Who fares the worst from shingles?<\/h2>
Other complications<\/h2>