THE difference between HPB (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) and cancer is that BPH is a benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate, whereas prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that can spread to other organs (metastasis) and lead to death.
BPH is the benign tumor more frequent among men, being observed in more than 40% of individuals over 50 years and in about 75% of men over 70 years of age.
It is, therefore, a fairly common condition. It is not a type of cancer, has no relation with prostate cancer, nor increases the chances of developing it.
THE prostate is a gland that surrounds the urethra, present only in men, and grows slowly (benign hyperplasia) as the man ages, compressing the urethra. This causes difficulty in urinating, in addition to complications such as infections and bladder failure, if left untreated.
The symptoms The most common HPBs are:
- Weaker urine stream;
- Willing to urinate several times, with short intervals and small volumes of urine;
- Wake up to urinate at night several times.
Already the prostate cancer (the most common type of cancer among men) is a disease very different from BPH. It develops when the cells of the prostate multiply and grow wildly, being able to invade organs and tissues neighboring or distant of the prostate.
The vast majority of malignant tumors of prostate glands grow so slowly that they do not even show signs of aging.
A man can develop BPH and prostate cancer at the same time, so it is always important to consult your doctor, urologist, general practitioner or family doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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Can hyperplasia become cancer?
What are the reference values of PSA?
