New research suggests that an enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean cancer is present. The study authors report that this condition is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This one could actually give men oneprovide some protection against prostate cancer. Since this type of cancer is the second most common cancer in men, many fear that it could cause prostate enlargement.
What an enlarged prostate can mean in men
Some previous studies have shown that BPH may increase the risk of cancer due to common drivers such as genetics, hormones and inflammation. However, this research should alleviate these concerns, as such enlargement may even reduce the risk of prostate cancer. BPH is usually common in aging men and can cause an urge to urinate, often at night, or a weak stream of urine. However, this is mainly due to the central part of the prostate becoming enlarged. This can accordingly prevent urine from leaving the bladder. Surprisingly, the likelihood of developing prostate cancer decreases as the prostate continues to enlarge, according to the study authors. In addition, an enlarged prostate reduces the risk of developing not just a single cancer site, but also more than one location. Based on these results, BPH can create mechanical pressure throughout the gland that inhibits cancer growth and reduces the likelihood of prostate cancer increasing in size.
The new study finds a possible explanation for the findings, as reducing prostate size with some medications can lead to reduced pressure throughout the gland. Furthermore, this could potentially enable the growth of cancerous tumors. There are very useful medications to treat BPH, but caution is advised, according to the study authors. However, these results may be because BPH makes it harder to find cancer with a biopsy. The study results could also have a biological explanation. If men have an enlarged prostate that competes with prostate cancer for growth factor, the prostate cancer may be at a growth disadvantage. This is a biological premise, but it has not been proven. Therefore, the research team advises men with BPH to have an MRI and a biopsy to make sure there is no cancer. Furthermore, deliversthis studyinteresting information, but not yet conclusive.
