Prostate cancer

Start early to prevent prostate cancer… causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention

A prostate is a walnut sized gland which is found in men only. It surrounds the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the penis. It is located in lower abdomen. It is a very common type of malignancy that is found in men.

The symptoms of prostate cancer are:
- difficulty in starting to urinate.
- frequent urination especially at night.
- pain while urinating.
- blood in urine.
- hip lower back pain.
- pain with ejaculation.
- pain in lower part of pelvis.
- weight loss.
- loss of appetite.

The cause of prostate cancer is not exactly known but there are some factors that increase the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. These factors include:
- A family history of prostate cancer in father or brother are at higher risk.
- Risk increases if several relatives are affected especially when they are young at time of diagnosis.
- High fat diet adds the risk of developing prostate cancer.
- A diet with high lycopenes and curcumin reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer involves following steps:
- Physical examination reveals an in-duration of nodule of the prostate.
- PSA blood test detects prostate cancer of low volume and is a step in initial diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- True cut prostate biopsy after positive PSA test confirms prostate cancer.

Treating early stages of prostate cancer involves watchful waiting. To treat prostate cancer, options available are:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Drug therapy
They can cause some side effects like impotence and incontinence but they tend to disappear after the treatment.

To prevent prostate cancer:
- Undergo examination and PSA test every 1-2 years interval.
- Limit animal fat consumption.
- Increase dietary consumption of lycopenes and curcumin rich food.

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What are the major side effects after the treatment for prostate cancer ?

Following treatment for prostate cancer, some men may experience :
From the day you were diagnosed with cancer, you’ve probably looked forward to getting back to your “normal” life. However, the disease may have dominated your life for so long that it might take some time to get back into your regular routine after your treatment is done. It’s important to give yourself and your loved ones time to adjust.

Incontinence

The inability to control urination affects about 10 percent of men who have been treated for prostate cancer.
- Stress incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
- Urge incontinence
Normal bladder function often returns within weeks after surgery or after radiation treatments have stopped.

Impotence

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to have an erection. Impotence can result from surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapies. In the months following surgery, some potency may return.
- Drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) can help a man achieve an erection.
- Vacuum devices also assist in achieving an erection.
- Penile implants can be inserted surgically to help create an erection.

Physical Discomfort

Physical discomfort after treatment for prostate cancer may include:
- Fatigue caused by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapies.
- Nausea and vomiting caused by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- Hair loss from chemotherapy.

What are different treatment options for prostate cancer ?

The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on your age, your overall health and whether the tumor has spread. Usually, tumors that have grown beyond the edge of the prostate can’t be cured with either radiation or surgery. They can be treated with hormones that slow the cancer’s growth.
Even physicians suggest that every man should have PSA test for prostate screening. If the DRE or PSA shows the abnormality, biopsy is done to the patient. In case of severity of the diseases, tests like CT scans or MRIs are done.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change. This is usually used in older men with other medical problems and early- stage disease.

Prostatectomy

It is the most common treatment option for localised prostate cancer. It involves surgical removal of prostate gland and some other near by tissues and reattaching the urethra and bladder. It will prevent further spread of the cancer. If the prostate cancer is in the early stages, prostatectomy can treat the cancer completely. This procedure also produce side effects like impotency, Urinary incontinence, narrowing of the urethra and difficulty in urination.

Radiation therapy

It is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. Impotence and urinary problems may occur in men treated with radiation therapy.

Hormone Therapy

It is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. The purpose of hormone therapy is to lower the level of male hormones, called androgens, which are produced mostly in the testicles. Androgens, such as testosterone, help the prostate tumor grow. Shots or pills can be given over a period of several months, or the testicles can be surgically removed. Some of the more serious side effects include loss of sex drive, weakened bones, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and osteoporosis.

Chemotherapy

It is a combination of drugs which is effective to kill or slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cells. Chemotherapy is usually prescribed to men with advanced prostate cancer. Side effects include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lowered blood counts, reduced ability of the blood to clot, and an increased risk of infection.

Cryotherapy

an ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to produce a picture that the physician will watch on a monitor. The physician will insert probes into the prostate through small incisions between the rectum and scrotum. These probes deliver liquid nitrogen to the prostate, which freezes the tissue and kills cancer cells.

TURP

A procedure called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) removes just a portion of the prostate, with an instrument that is inserted through the urethra. The cancer is removed from the prostate by electricity that passes through the end of this special instrument.

Biologic therapy

Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer.