Prostate Cancer Canada

About the Prostate

Early Detection Guidelines
Prevention
Non-Cancerous Prostate Conditions
PSA

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In The News

Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at BC Legislative Assembly
VICTORIA, May 4, 2012- On Monday, May 7, Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC) will host their first Legislative Assembly Day to promote education and awareness of prostate cancer in British Columbia.

Media Advisory - Prostate Cancer Canada celebrates local Halifax hero
HALIFAX, April 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Please join Prostate Cancer Canada and members of the Halifax business community as we celebrate a local hero who has made an extraordinary contribution in the fight against prostate cancer through courage, inspiration and dedication.

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Non-Cancerous Prostate Conditions

Prostatitis

Prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate, can also affect PSA levels. Because this inflammation can break down tissues in the prostate gland, it can enable quite a bit of prostate-specific antigen to escape fairly quickly into the blood. An acutely inflamed or infected prostate can increase a man's PSA level to 100 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) or higher. After treatment for prostatitis, it can take up to six months for PSA levels to return to normal.

Twenty-five percent of all men who have urinary problems have prostatitis. There are two forms of prostatitis: acute and chronic. Both are treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms include:

Acute prostatitis

High fever
Severe burning on urination
Increase in urination frequency
General malaise (feeling ill)

Chronic prostatitis

Burning on urination
Discomfort in the pelvic area
Pain with ejaculation
More frequent urination
No fever; no malaise

Acute prostatitis is less common but it is more severe and the symptoms come on quickly. Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. Symptoms of chronic prostatitis develop more slowly, are harder to treat and can go on for months or even years.

Chronic prostatitis can be bacterial or nonbacterial (the most common form). The symptoms are similar but men with the nonbacterial form do not have fevers. A cure isn’t always possible, but symptoms can usually be controlled with a variety of treatments.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis can also increase the amount of PSA found in a man's blood. BPH, a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, can elevate PSA levels because a larger prostate manufactures more prostate-specific antigen. Also, any prostate condition can weaken the tissues in the prostate gland, allowing more PSA to leak into the blood. Usually, PSA levels caused by BPH do not go as high as those caused by prostate cancer, nor do the levels tend to rise as quickly. However, most likely, if you have a higher than normal PSA level or one that is steadily rising, your doctor will discuss the value of having a prostate biopsy to determine whether cancer or some other condition is to blame.

Symptoms include:

The symptoms of BPH are mainly related to urination. (Some of these may also be related to aging of the bladder itself.) They include:

More frequent urination (day and night)
Inability to empty the bladder completely
Weak urine stream
Inability to delay urination
Difficulty stopping and starting urination
Incontinence (loss of urinary control)
Painful or bloody urination

In most cases, the appearance of blood in the urine (hematuria) is painless. It occurs because as the prostate grows, it stretches the blood vessels around it causing them to become thin and bleed easily. The blood loss is usually small and not serious. However, if you ever notice blood in your urine, tell your physician immediately, it must be investigated to rule out more serious conditions, such as kidney or bladder cancer.