What You Should Know About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death in American men, only second to lung cancer. Approximately 1 in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Black men are at even more risk, being 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of other groups.
Prostate cancer occurs in a man's prostate; a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. The prostate is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder, surrounding the upper part of the urethra, that caries semen and urine from the bladder.
What Is Cancer
Cancer is a group of many different diseases that affect the body's cells. Cells normally grow and divide to produce more cells as the body needs them. If cells keep dividing and growing when they are not needed, excess tissue is formed, called a tumor. Tumors can be malignant or benign. Benign tumors do not attack other tissue or spread.
Malignant tumors are cancer and cancer cells grow out of control, attacking nearby healthy tissue. These cells can also break away and enter a person's bloodstream and lymphatic system. This is the process by which cancer spreads to other parts of the body, called metastasis. If cancer does spread to other parts of the body, the new cancer retains the same name as the original tumor. Prostate cancer commonly remains in the prostate or it may spread to the lymph nodes, bladder, and other organs.
There are some types of prostate cancer that require only small amounts of treatment, however most require invasive treatment. If the cancer is caught early the individual has a much greater prognosis. What is meant by early is when the cancer is contained to the prostate gland and not spread.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one in which there are no early warning signs or symptoms. Once a malignant tumor causes the prostate gland to swell significantly, or once cancer spreads beyond the prostate, the following symptoms may be present:
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Increased need to urinate, primarily at nighttime
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Difficulty or troubles stopping or beginning the urine stream
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Weakened or poor urine stream
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Painful urination such as a burning sensation
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Burning or pain after ejaculation
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Blood found in the urine or semen
The above listed symptoms are not those of the cancer itself, but the prostate reacting to the cancer.
They are rather symptoms of the cancer growth, which causes a blockage in the prostate and other near tissues. If a man has these symptoms he should see a doctor to determine the cause.
These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious health issues, such as an infection or BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia also known as benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP)). BPH is the abnormal growth of benign tissue, which causes the prostate to push against the urethra and block the normal flow of urine from the bladder. The majority of men in the United States between the ages of 60 and 70 have symptoms of BPH. Although this condition is generally not life threatening, the symptoms may require treatment.
Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer include:
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Dull, incessant deep pain or stiffness in the pelvis, lower back, ribs or upper thighs; arthritic pain in the bones of those areas.
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Weight loss, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, or vomiting.
Prostate Cancer Testing
If symptoms of prostate cancer do occur, there are many tools that a doctor will utilize in diagnosis including a person's medical history, a digital rectal exam, and laboratory blood tests.
The digital rectal exam is where a doctor inserts a finger into the rectum and examines the prostate through the rectal wall for problem areas. Laboratory blood tests would include a PSA test which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. The level of PSA in the blood has been shown to increase in men who have prostate cancer, BPH, or an infection in the prostate. A prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) blood test may also be used as PAP is often released into the blood as a result of prostate dysfunction. Other tests to diagnose prostate cancer may include an ultrasound of the prostate, biopsy, CAT scans, or an MRI.
Many of the screenings are very helpful in the detection of cancer. This helps physicians catch the cancer in early stages and preserves the life of the individual. While other forms of testing does help detect cancer, they have not been shown through research to ensure a decreased risk of dying from the cancer.
If test results indicate that cancer may be present, a biopsy is generally recommended. A biopsy is a procedure where a doctor removes a small amount of prostate tissue (usually with a needle) and has it examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only definitive way to diagnose and grade cancer. The grade indicates how fast the cancer is likely to grow. For prostate cancer, a common grading system is called the Gleason system, which uses a score from 2 to 10. The lower the score, the less likely the tumor is to grow or spread.
Causes & Research
Currently, the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. As researchers continue investigating the specific causes of this condition, the medical community has already identified a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of prostate cancer.
Risk factors for prostate cancer are:
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Age: Older men are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men under 40 years of age.
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Some believe that a diet high in fatty foods can increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Some believe that a high fat diet may increase or promote abnormal cell growth, therefore leading to cancer.
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African American men are at an increased risk than other ethnic males.
With increased technology and medical science patients now have many options when treating prostate cancer. In general, ideal treatment may vary from patient to patient, depending on age, the stage of the cancer and whether or not the cancer has metastasized or spread. Treatment could include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, proton therapy, or hormonal therapy. These treatments can often lead to a cure.