Myth: My Chances of Getting Prostate Cancer Are Low Because No One in My Family Has It
While you don’t need a direct relative to have cancer in order to be diagnosed with it yourself, your chance of developing it increases if someone in your family has the disease. The risk of developing prostate cancer is ordinarily about 1 in 9, however that risk becomes 1 in 3 if someone in your family has it. This risk doubles if your father and/or brother has prostate cancer. This risk is also increased if your family member developed prostate cancer under the age of 55. This leads us to our next myth.
Myth: Prostate Cancer Only Affects the Elderly
This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions. While it is true 65% of all prostate cancer cases involve men over the age of 65, studies show that 35% develop the disease at a much younger age. There have even been reports of men in their 20s and 30s being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Myth: I Can’t Have Prostate Cancer if I Don’t Have Any Symptoms
Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the word ‘asymptomatic’ has become one of the more common terms in our vocabulary. Well, the same goes for prostate cancer. In fact, prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer that tend to be completely asymptomatic to a certain point, meaning that some men may not experience any kind of symptoms until they see a doctor for a routine check-up.
However, when a patient does present symptoms such as painful and frequent urination or blood in the urine, they can often get mistaken for other conditions such as prostatitis, which is when the prostate is either infected or inflamed. Doctors may also attribute a person’s symptoms to a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.
In most cases, a PSA test is the first step in identifying a prostate-specific antigen, including both benign prostate hyperplasia and an enlarged prostate, but it does not detect cancer. So, if your PSA test comes back fine, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have prostate cancer.
Other symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Frequent pain and/or stiffness in the lower back, upper thighs or hips
- Difficulty stopping and/or starting urination
- Weak urine flow
- And more
Risk Factors of Developing Prostate Cancer
In addition to age and family history, race and diet are contributing factors to developing prostate cancer. For example, African American men are 74% more likely to be diagnosed with this disease than any other race. Likewise, obesity is found to be a huge contributing factor to the diagnosis of aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
If your doctor failed to take a family history or failed to refer you to a specialist when you were presenting signs of prostate cancer and as a result, received a negative prognosis, don’t delay in seeking justice. At Baldwin Matzus, LLC, we have decades of experience representing clients in cancer misdiagnosis cases. We will fight for your rights and work with you every step of the way.
Contact a Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Case in Pennsylvania
Were you or a loved one injured due to a prostate cancer misdiagnosis in Pennsylvania? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Philadelphia delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer attorneys at Baldwin Matzus, LLC are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Butler, Cranberry, Greensburg and Washington. Call us today at (866) 858-2276 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 310 Grant Street, Suite 3210, Philadelphia, PA 15219.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
