Does an enlarged prostate necessarily indicate prostate cancer?
September 1, 2010 by Administrator
Filed under Enlarged Prostate, Prostate Cancer
The doctors told my grandpa that he has an enlarged prostate. But my grandpa does not want them poking around, so I’m not sure what he has. What does an enlarged prostate indicate? Does it always indicate prostate cancer? Thank you! 
No, in most cases the enlargement is benign. It’s quite common for the prostrate gland to enlarge in older guys. By the age of 70, approx 70-80% of men have an enlarged prostate gland. If it’s benign it’s called benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also, having BPH does not increase or decrease the risk of prostate cancer contrary to popular belief.
BHP is usually diagnosed by symptoms alone. Sometimes more tests are needed to rule out other causes and the risk of it being cancerous. His Doctor will need to examine the prostrate properly to assess how big it is, -they probably already did this. Referrals and other tests are usually only done if the gland is particularly enlarged or your grandpa is symptomatic. In some cases a prostate specific antigen blood test may be done but in the UK this isn’t routine. A high PSA level is found in people with prostate cancer, but most men with prostrate symptoms to do not have cancer. – I must stress this. A PCA3 test may also be offered. This is a urine test which detecting cancer of the prostate and is probably more accurate than the PSA.
Unless your grandpa is having symptoms he may not need treatment or further tests. An enlarged prostrate is often asymptomatic.