Yes, it can. The enlarging of the prostate is a serious and scary illness. According to nlm.nih.gov, “An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.

An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. It is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk for prostate cancer.”

“The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Factors linked to aging and the testicles themselves may play a role in the growth of the gland. Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH. Similarly, if the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH, the prostate begins to shrink in size.”

There are ways to prevent or to cope with an enlarged prostate, “Urinate when you first get the urge. Also, go to the bathroom when you have the chance, even if you don’t feel a need to urinate. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner. Don’t drink a lot of fluid all at once. Spread out drinking fluids throughout the day. Continue reading →

According to cancer.org, “The prostate is a gland found only in males. It is located in front of the rectum and below the urinary bladder. The size of the prostate varies with age. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men.”

The prostate has a specific job, “The prostate’s job is to make some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen, making the semen more liquid. Just behind the prostate are glands called seminal vesicles that make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, goes through the center of the prostate”

Prostate is developed long time before men are adults, “The prostate starts to develop before birth. It grows rapidly during puberty, fueled by male hormones (called androgens) in the body. The main androgen, testosterone, is made in the testicles.

The enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the main hormone that signals the prostate to grow. The prostate usually stays at about the same size or grows slowly in adults, as long as male hormones are present.”

“Several types of cells are found in the prostate, but almost all prostate cancers develop from the gland cells. Gland cells make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen. The medical term for a cancer that starts in gland cells isadeno carcinoma. Continue reading →