Fast Facts About Prostate Cancer

By Author: Robert Kirk
Total Articles: 3764
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Prostate cancer is a condition which afflicts men. The cancer develops and spreads within the prostate gland. This gland is located around the neck of the bladder, and is responsible for the production and release of seminal fluid, the thick gel which carries the sperm to the uterus of the female. As is the case with most types of cancers, prostate cancer is easier to treat during the early stages; in advanced stages the chances for adverse effects due to surgery or other drastic treatments may be more detrimental to the health of the patient than the illness itself.

One out of six men is expected to be diagnosed with the disease within his lifetime, with a mortality rate of one out of thirty-four. This is a condition which usually afflicts middle-aged males; those who are below 40 years of age are rarely diagnosed with prostate cancer. The factors which contribute to the possibility of acquiring the disease include age, race, family history, diet and nutrition, and obesity. Symptoms during the early stages are practically non-existent; as the cancer spreads, the following indications are observed: frequent urination, ...
... particularly at night, although the male has difficulty in controlling urine flow; the urine stream is weak or constantly interrupted; urinating provides a painful and burning sensation; erectile dysfunction and painful ejaculation; the presence of blood in the urine or semen; and persistent pain and stiffness in the upper thighs, the lower back, and the hips.

Tests for detecting the presence of the disease include the Prostate-specific Antigen Blood test (PSA), and Digital Rectal Exams (DRE). During the course of a PSA test, a blood sample is taken from the patient's arm, in order to determine the levels of PSA, a protein created by the prostate. Levels beneath 4ng/mL are normal, and those above 10ng/mL are high. During a Digital Rectal Exam, the doctor evaluates the condition of the prostate, and checks for abnormalities with size, shape, or texture, by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger in the patient's rectum. These two procedures usually complement each other in providing credible detection of an onset of prostate cancer.

Detection, diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer need a joint effort from urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists; the latter two are made after the PSA and DRE methods have shown the presence of the disease. The usual diagnostical test employed is the biopsy, wherein relatively small samples of tissue are taken from the prostate for examination, usually with the help of ultrasound imaging; this procedure is quite discomfiting or painful, but is relatively short in duration. The condition of the disease is determined through an evaluation system known as the Gleason Grading and Scoring system.

Treatments for prostate cancer vary, and are basically dependent on several factors: the stage of the disease, the physiological profile of the patient, and his willingness to undergo a specific treatment. A quick run-through of available treatments includes active surveillance, radiation therapy (for advanced or recurring stages), prostatectomy or surgery, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. This is not an exhaustive list of all available options, as there are current alternatives which still need to be clinically-approved as efficient treatments for the disease.