Prostate Cancer
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and found only in men. It surrounds part of the urethra that allows the passage of urine from the bladder to the penis. The cells that make up the outermost part of the prostate can become cancerous and give rise to prostate cancer.
How common is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate Cancer is the sixth most common cancer in men. This cancer usually occurs after the age of 50 years and is seen mostly in those over 70 years of age.
Risks and Causes
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown.
Symptoms and Signs of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer is usually without any symptoms and maybe picked up incidentally during a routine examination of the anus and rectum. With more advanced disease there may be difficulty passing urine. As cancer can spread to any organ or tissue in the body, in the late stages there may be symptoms such as bone pain.
Diagnostic Tests
The prostate is located in front of the rectum and therefore can be examined with a gloved finger in the rectum by a doctor. Apart from physical examination, blood tests (Prostate specific antigen or PSA) can help diagnose prostate cancer. To confirm prostate cancer, small pieces of tissues from the prostate gland can be removed via the rectum. Prostate cancer may also be diagnosed in the tissue removed during surgery for enlarged non-cancerous prostate gland to relieve difficulty in passing urine (benign prostatic hyperplasia). Once prostate cancer is confirmed, scans of the abdomen may be performed. A bone scan is done to see if the bones are affected.
Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Surgery for prostate cancer is extensive - the entire prostate gland and nearby tissue is removed. There may be complications after surgery such as impotence and difficulty controlling urine because delicate nerves may be damaged during the procedure.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays focused on the cancer. It has an important role to play in the treatment of prostate cancer. Some studies suggest radiotherapy maybe as effective as surgery in certain stages of prostate cancer. Radiotherapy is also given to prostate cancer that has spread to bones and the bone that is affected is painful.
Prostate cancer depends on male sex hormones to grow. Without them, prostate cancer growth is affected. Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer stops the production of male hormones or block male hormones from reaching the cancer. Another form of hormonal therapy is the removal of both testes, which removes the main source of male sex hormones. Some male hormones come from the adrenal glands, small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. There are agents that can stop the production of these hormones from the adrenal glands. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that kill cancer cells. Drugs are injected into the hand veins or can be taken by mouth in tablet form. When hormonal therapy no longer works in patients with advanced prostate cancer, chemotherapy may be used but is generally not very effective.
Prognosis of Prostate Cancer
Clinical examinations, x-rays and pathology reports all help the medical team decide what the progress of an individual case of Prostate Cancer may be. Then, the appropriate course of treatment will be put into action. The treatment strategy will vary from person to person. With prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for a person with Prostate Cancer is reasonable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Prostate Cancer
1. Why was my 85-year old father / uncle not treated for his prostate cancer?
Treatment is occasionally not given to the elderly patient with slow-growing prostate cancer. The patient may have other diseases that are potentially life threatening, such as heart disease or lung disease. Whereas his cancer, if left alone, would not cause problems for many years to come.
2. What tests should be done to detect prostate cancer?
Blood can be sent for prostate specific antigen or PSA. This marker may be elevated in people who have a benign enlargement of the prostate gland, infection of the prostate gland or prostate cancer. Also of importance is a rectal examination that should be performed annually in males older than 40 years.
Prevention:
In general, early detection is the best preventive measure. Do consult a doctor if you have the are frequent urination, increased urination at night, blood in the urine, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady flow of urine, and painful urination. Increase your intake of lycopene (found in tomatoes), soy proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids (from oily fish) and stop smoking.
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