What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the tumour that forms in the tissues of the prostate which is a gland found only in males. It is found below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate usually stays at about the same size or grows slowly in adults, as long as male hormones are present. Several types of cells are found in the prostate, but almost all prostate cancers develop from the gland cells. Gland cells make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen. Other types of cancer can also start in the prostate gland, including sarcomas, small cell carcinomas, and transitional cell carcinomas. But these types of prostate cancer are so rare that if you have prostate cancer it is almost certain to be an adenocarcinoma.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), but it can often be successfully treated. Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most grow slowly. In fact, autopsy studies show that many older men who died of other diseases also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives.
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Symptoms
As with any cancer, knowing Prostate Cancer Symptoms is essential in order to avoid complications. Also, like many other cancers, Prostate cancer symptoms do not manifest themselves in the early stages.
- Trouble urinating
- blood in the urine
- painful urination
- Painful ejaculation
- An urge to urinate more frequently
- Swelling or weakness in the legs
- pain in the pelvis
- compression of the spine
- urinary or faecal incontinence
- pain in the spine or ribs
The above are all signs that can be easily noticeable by most men and that should give out an alert of prostate cancer.
Diagnosis and treatment
Prostate cancer, being a relatively slow growing cancer, can give the patient time to select the proper treatment option. Since, prostate cancer usually occurs in older men they can select the most suited treatment based on numerous factors including the severity of the cancer, other health issues, etc.
Treatment options include the conventional, established treatments like the complete removal of the prostate, radiation therapy and also a concept known as watchful waiting which acknowledges the cancer but just keeps an eye on it to make sure it does not spread.
HIFU or high intensity focused ultrasound is a relatively new, but successful treatment option.
If the cancer is confined to the prostate, but involving larger tumours, radiation therapy and prostatectomy are commonly recommended.
Prostatectomy involves removing both the prostate and the nearby lymph nodes. Radiation treatment involves radiation directed at the area having tumours for a few months. The insertion of radioactive pellets into the prostate is another option which requires a short hospital stay.
These treatments may result in impotence and incontinence. However, they are among the possible treatment modalities with a relatively high success rate for curing or at least stopping cancers that have not spread beyond the prostate.
