Finding out you have prostate cancer can be devastating news and you may feel lost and confused. But being diagnosed with prostate cancer, like any other cancer, can be extremely serious but also curable. Like every other disease, prostate cancer has some myths and misconceptions that can sometimes be extremely inaccurate and misleading.
Here’s a list of some of the most common myths and misconceptions about prostate cancer (source: UrologyWeb.com website):
1. Prostate Cancer Always has Urinary Symptoms:
It is common to think that if a patient does not experience urinary symptoms, then it is not prostate cancer. This is a myth since prostate cancer causes many different symptoms. In fact, given how widespread the prostatic specific antigen (PSA) examination is, most men are diagnosed in early stages of the disease, during which there aren’t yet any urinary symptoms.
2. Frequent Sex and Ejaculation Improve the Prostate’s Health:
There are many risk factors for prostate cancer and many lifestyle alterations that can help improve the health of the prostate. But frequent sex or ejaculation has never been scientifically proven to lower the risk of prostate cancer or improve the prostate’s health, as stated by the Florida Urological Associates.
3. Prostate Cancer Can Be Transmitted to the Spouse:
Some patients may be concerned that they can pass cancer to their spouse through sex. But this is a myth since cancer occurs when cells in the body grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. No type of cancer can be sexually transmitted.