As men age, they often come to the office experiencing changes in their urinary stream. They may wake up at night to urinate 2 or 3 times. They may have trouble starting or have dribbling when they finish (no matter how much you wiggle or dance the last few drops go down the pants-syndrome). Good news. This is usually BPH. It is a benign (not cancerous) thickening (hyperplasia) of the prostate gland that comes with aging. The lens of the eye does the same thing and this is why we all wear cheater eyeglasses at 50. It is easily treatable so relax; see your physician for samples of medicines that will help.

Prostate cancer on the other hand, is usually not as symptomatic and therefore requires that visit to the physician’s office that all men seem to hate so much. Yes, it will require that “digital rectal exam” we all fear so much. But it is important to grin and bear it and get it done. It isn’t as bad as you may think. Make sure the physician uses some lubrication and takes their rings off. A PSA (Prostatic Specific Antigen) blood test can be completed at the same time to help differentiate the above.