It can be easy to mistake a prostate cancer symptom for symptoms of less critical conditions like enlarged prostate (BPH) or prostatitis. In most cases, a doctor is the first one to detect signs of prostate cancer, usually during a routine exam. That’s the reason why you should see your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms:

- Difficulty urinating or retaining urine

- Frequent urination, particularly at night

- An intermittent or weak urine flow

- Burning or painful urination

- Blood in urine or semen

- Difficulty in achieving erections or painful ejaculations

- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

There are other factors that can affect your risk of developing prostate cancer, which 1 out of 6 American men are afflicted with. This makes it the most common type of non-skin cancer for men. These other risk factor include:

Age. As men get older the risk rises sharply. For men under 40, the odds of being diagnosed with prostate cancer are roughly 1 in 10,000. However, for men between 40 – 59, the risk increases to 1 in every 38, and for men between 60 – 69, the risk jumps to 1 in 15.

Family genetics. A man who has had a father or brother with a prostate cancer diagnosis is twice as likely to develop it himself. The risk rises even more if that diagnosis of prostate cancer in family members occurred at an early age (e.g., 55 years old), or if there were 3 or more family members affected.

Race. African-American men have a 60% more likely chance to develop prostate cancer than men of Caucasian origin, with their odds of dying from the cancer being more than twice that of whites. For U.S. men overall, the risk of prostate cancer is 17%. Asian men living in Asian countries have the lowest overall cancer rate (2%), but for those who have moved into Western cultures, their risk has been shown to rise dramatically.

Location. U.S. men living in cities north of 40 degrees latitude (say, north of Columbus or Philadelphia) have the highest risk of dying from prostate cancer than men living elsewhere in the country. That tendency is widely attributed to the lower levels of sunlight available during the wintertime, reducing important Vitamin D levels and increasing cancer risks.

There are additional risk factors that can lead to demonstrating a prostate cancer symptom and the development of aggressive prostate cancer:

- Significant lack of high-fiber vegetables (e.g., broccoli) in the diet

- High calcium consumption

- Lack of exercise

- Excessive height.

Factors and conditions that don’t seem to increase your risks for developing prostate cancer include:

- Obesity, or a high body mass index (BMI)

- An enlarged prostate (or benign prostate hypertrophy)

- Prostatitis

- An overly-active sex life

- Vasectomies

- Medications

- Alcohol

Once author Chuck Viccente discovered his first possible prostate cancer symptom, it worried him so much that he started reading scientific literature and writing articles on prostate enlarged symptoms, prostatitis, BPH, and other important male health issues. Here he gladly shares some of what he has learned.

Only 1 In Every Ten Men Have Heard Of HPV

A recent Danish survey with roughly 22,000 Danish men, shows that only one in every 10 men aged 18 to 45 years, have knowledge of HPV – the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women. Results indicates, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a immense responsibility.

-They have, for the reason that HPV is a virus, primarily transmitted sexually. It is therefore really critical that men are aware, that they are carriers in relation to women and cervical cancer and that they can acquire for example, penile cancer, anal cancer and certain forms of cancer of the head and neck region, “says researcher Ann Nielsen from the Danish Cancer Fighting, who is the main author of the study.

The research demonstrates that a small amount of men have heard of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.

-For women, research prove that older women are more aware of HPV rather than younger women. Still this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.

Although there has been more alertness of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not believe that it has reached the men yet.

-When we interviewed the men, there were an initial consciousness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was – at the time – just entering the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.

HPV is first and foremost sexually transmitted. At present all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a free HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Moreover, all girls born in 1993, 1994 and 1995 received the offer of free vaccination. So far Danish boys will not be offered free vaccination.

Ann Nielsen points out that there really is a large need for information efforts towards men. – Not just regarding sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience – fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is very essential that their awareness is high, when they should consider whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.

Need for knowledge American research have also shown, that an increased focus on HPV means an increased knowledge. In the U.S., the number of anal cancer and head and neck cancer incidents has grown.

-We estimate that the same applies in Denmark. And we must not lose sight of the genital warts – something that many men and women suffer from. We estimate that around 10 percent of all men, at some time in their lives, become infected with genital warts.

Therefore, it is purely crucial to have knowledge and awareness out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.

The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.