What Are You Smelling?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Since my father got this disease, I learned that one out of every eight men will be diagnosed with this disease.1
Our powerful sense of smell
I’ve known since I was a kid that our noses pick up many scents. For years I have heard that older people have certain smells. Now I am one of those older people; I wonder how I smell?
It’s amazing a main function of the senses is smell.
Can your dog smell you? Yes, they can. I know a lot of us are saying, yeah right! But as humans, we do have sensitive smells just like animals. Dogs can sometimes smell cancer. Think about it for a minute: we have dogs that can track the scent of a person or sniff out drugs and explosives. That is so amazing. Just like other diseases, cancers have different odors in the body and your secretions that dogs can sniff out.2
What's your nostril saying to you?
My father is 85 and he doesn’t smell, I don’t think. I know the body is significantly made and that all five senses serve a purpose in the body functioning. You may not be old but could have the smell that comes with being older.
Early warning signs in smells
Maybe you suddenly smell a funny way. You should try to document where the smell is coming from. Make sure to make note of how many times you smell it. A person may consider going to the doctor to get a complete workup to rule anything out. I know for my father he noticed a weird smell when urinating along with difficulty in urinating. He decided to make an appointment.
It was good that he was in tune with the changes in his body. It was detected early that he had prostate cancer. He needed the smells and difficulty in urinating to help him know. He also had extra pressure, which made him feel like he had to go often when he went to use the bathroom.
Don't underestimate smell
Once people are diagnosed, some may begin treatment. Early treatment is contingent upon recognizing what your body is trying to tell you. You may get blood work and another medical workup. Make sure to keep all your appointments.
If you're told you smell funny, don't be offended. You should be thankful because maybe that smell is telling you something. The smell also could be from your breath, your body pores. Listen to your smells and realize it doesn’t mean you need a shower but could mean it's time to get a medical checkup.
Don't underestimate smell, it may help aid you in figuring out your overall health. We all know that early detection is one of the most important factors in surviving prostate cancer.
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