EARLY HAIR LOSS OCCURRENCE CAN HELP DETECT PROSTATE CANCER

For decades, the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has long been responsible for causing hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. By age 60, around 50% of men will develop some signs of BPH. Around the same age, almost all men will probably develop hair loss.

Today, surveys show that prostate cancer is linked to early hair loss. The survey revealed that men who experience hair loss in their 20s have twice the possibility of developing prostate cancer.

The study involved 669 subjects. A control group of 281 where healthy patients and did not have any history of prostate cancer. Another group consist 388 subjects that had prostate cancer. The test subjects were given questionnaires regarding age of hair loss occurrence, history of prostate cancer, family history of prostate cancer, age at which prostate cancer was diagnosed, et cetera.

As a conclusion, the study revealed that there is a greater risk of developing prostate cancer in patients who experience hair loss early on.

This study is very helpful, since the symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer are very similar. Having BPH does not mean a patient will develop prostate cancer but there are patients who have BPH who may also have undetected prostate cancer at the same time.

Similar symptoms of BPH and Prostate Cancer

• Frequent urination
• Difficulty and hesitancy to start urination
• Sudden need to urinate
• Difficulty in maintaining a steady stream during urination
• Dribbling after urination
• Post drip after urination
• Feeling unrelieved after urination

It is very hard to differentiate BPH and prostate cancer. Screening tests for prostate cancer is the best modality for an accurate diagnosis. Usually patients over 50 should undergo a screening test, while patients who have a family history of prostate cancer are advised to take the screening test at 45.

Though screening is an effective way of diagnosing cancer, it is found to be ineffective in decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer. Therefore, it is important to identify patients who are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Thus, this study has proven helpful to narrow down the subjects who might develop cancer later in life and constant monitoring may help detect and treat cancer early.