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The problems of both an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostate cancer typically begin to appear in men in their forties and fifties, with instances increasing with age, and one common method of detecting the presence of a prostate problem is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
The prostate gland produces a specific protein, the presence of which can be detected in the blood through the PSA test, and with a normal and healthy prostate the level of this protein found in the blood is quite low. However, both an enlarged prostate gland and prostate cancer result in raised levels of PSA alerting doctors to the presence of a developing problem and signaling the need for further investigation and possibly treatment.
In the case of an enlarged prostate gland one commonly used treatment is that of the administration of the drug finasteride which targets an enzyme within the prostate gland which, together with testosterone, is key to the growth of the gland.
Although prostate problems are common in men in their forties, fifties and beyond they are not the only problems that men of this age suffer and another very common problem is that of hair loss. Many years ago men simply accepted this as part of the ageing process but today a rapidly growing number of men are choosing to attack the problem of hair loss, either through the use of various hair restorers or tonics, drug therapy or surgery.
One frequently used hair loss drug is Propecia, which it is currently estimated is being used by well over one million American men, and unfortunately the use of this hair loss treatment may well be masking the fact that some of these men may also be developing either an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. The problem here lies simply in the fact that Propecia contains finasteride.
In a recent study a group of men between the ages of forty and sixty who were suffering from male pattern baldness were given either Propecia or a placebo and their PSA levels were then monitored. The study found that PSA levels dropped by as much as 40 percent for men in their forties and 50 percent for men in their fifties when they were given Propecia, while levels in those men receiving the placebo rose by an average of 13 percent.
With prostate cancer killing many thousands of men every year and representing the second most common form of cancer in the Unites States today (second only to skin cancer), the importance of regular prostate screening for men in their forties and fifties in undoubted. However, if you are taking any form of medication including simple over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements or indeed anything else, then you must tell your doctor.
It might seem insignificant and irrelevant to tell your doctor that you are taking Propecia to stave off baldness but, without this knowledge, your doctor could well give you the all clear for prostate cancer when in fact the signs are there but are simply being masked by your hair loss treatment.