If you’re constantly feeling out of breath, it wouldn’t be unusual to feel that your lungs are the problem. In some cases, however, that might not be true. As an African American man, one illness you should be on the lookout for is prostate cancer.
While the issue doesn’t start in the lungs, the tumors spread in the late stages of the diseases. By the time you have advanced prostate cancer, it’s not unusual for these tumors to affect the lungs and make it hard for you to breathe.
According to recent statistics, Black men are more at risk for developing prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities.
Worse yet, health data shows that Black men get diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer more often. While the causes behind these discrepancies aren’t completely clear, what it means is that these men are twice as likely to die from the disease.
It doesn’t help that the early symptoms of prostate cancer aren’t always obvious.
In fact, if you are having trouble breathing, you’re likely in the late stages of the disease. Some of the other symptoms you may notice include chronic pain in the bones, swelling in the pelvic area, numbness in the legs, or swollen feet.
While it’s true that it’s easier to treat prostate cancer in its earlier stages, there are still effective treatment options for the advanced disease. These include:
Immunotherapy – This form of treatment stimulates a patient’s immune system to fight the cancer cells in the body. What sets immunotherapy apart is that it’s tailored specifically for each patient. The medication is administered through an IV.
Hormone therapy – This treatment is based on the fact that the male hormone, testosterone, is known to encourage the growth of cancer cells in the prostate. To combat this, patients with advanced prostate cancer are given hormones that reduce the amount of testosterone in the system.
Chemotherapy – If the previous treatment options fail, chemotherapy is usually next in line. This well-known treatment is used to eradicate cancer cells in the body.
Precision medicine – With this treatment, doctors will study the specific mutation of the cancer cells. Based on that information, patients receive more targeted medication that will work on the genomes that have been identified.
With advanced prostate cancer, clinical trials are another option that can help treat the illness. Typically, you’ll need to meet certain criteria to join a clinical trial so talk with your doctor about which trials may be right for you.
When you’re undergoing treatment for advanced prostate cancer, it’s important to take care of your overall health. It’s best to eat well, get the right amount of rest, and ask your doctor about medications or nutrition changes that can supplement your treatment.
While you’re dealing with prostate cancer, it can help to establish a support system made up of your loved ones, close friends, or a counselor.
Keeping your stress levels under control will also be vital to maintaining your overall health. To help with that, you should develop stress management skills that can include relaxation exercises. Of course, effective communication with your doctor will be integral.
If you are concerned about how your treatment is progressing or are overwhelmed by the side effects, let your doctor know.
Chronic breathing problems can be caused by different health problems. It’s interesting that one of those potential illnesses is one that starts in the prostate. Before things get to that point, though, it’s a good idea to have your prostate checked annually.
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
