Prostate cancer claims its turf silently. The tumor grows in the prostate gland discreetly without any obvious symptoms until an advanced stage of growth is reached. The symptoms that do show up at this stage are too mellow to be associated with something as serious as cancer, and men usually ignore them attributing them simply to signs of advancing age.
Any man will get Prostate Cancer if he lives long enough. How come? 70% of all men above 90 have a tumor of some kind in his prostate gland. Nobody is immune to this deadly cancer. The only means of protection is to know it in and out and to detect it early on.
Billions have been spent on researching Prostate Cancer and none of that has resulted in a solid conclusion as to how it is caused although some factors that influence its formation have been identified conclusively. For instance, the age of a person affects the probability of cancer considerably. The older you are the higher is your chance of having prostate cancer. Men of African-American descent are genetically predisposed towards prostate cancer, and so are men who habitually consume a diet rich in fat and predictably so.
It is quite possible to detect prostate cancer before it reaches an advanced stage through one of the various tests that are available. The most rudimentary of them all is the rectal analysis which is conducted to determine whether there is an enlargement of the prostate gland. The DRE, as it is referred to, is the ingenuous process of inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the back passage to actually feel the prostate gland to determine its size. Ultrasound test, a more refined version of this test, is performed by inserting an ultrasound probe instead of the customary finger of the rectal analysis. Another noteworthy procedure that joins this league is the biopsy where small cylindrical tissue cores are extracted from the prostate gland itself by the use of a probe with a special spring loaded needle. These samples are then analyzed under a microscope to detect instances of cancerous growth.
Although these tests sound macabre and intimidating, there is a blood test that could determine Prostate Cancer. The PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen test) is performed by extracting a blood sample from the patient and analyzing this sample for abnormally high levels of a particular antigen produced in the prostate gland, high levels of which are a telltale sign of Prostate Cancer.
When prostate cancer is detected early on, there is a very high probability of achieving a complete cure without a possibility of recurrence. Early detection of Prostate Cancer is the key to a successful cure since for a case where the tumor growth has advanced to the bones; even surgery simply fails to cut it, literally.
The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. It's estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help.
One symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer.
Most symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. Because symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.
One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.
A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there's a spread of cancer.
The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.
Be aware that some men choose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.
Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells.
Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.
If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.
If you haven't been diagnosed but are concerned about symptoms you should call for an appointment to see your doctor; and if you're a man older than 50 who has never been screened for prostate cancer (by rectal exam and/or PSA level determination) or not had a regular annual exam, or have had a family history of prostate cancer, make an appointment soon. It's important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer.
Both Lena Butler & Helen Hecker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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