Know More About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure which wraps around the urethra making up the part of a man’s reproductive system which produces a fluid that makes up part of semen. Generally, a tumor grows slowly and remains confined to the gland for many years. During this time, the tumor produces little to no symptoms or outward signs. Some aggressive types of prostate cancer grow and spread more rapidly than others and can cause a significant shortening of life expectancy in men affected by them.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in American men and the second leading cause of deaths from cancer, after lung cancer. It is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40. According to the American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates, 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer would be diagnosed in 2010 and 32,050 would die from the disease.

The prostate specific antigen blood test, or PSA, is often done to screen men for prostate cancer. Because of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms. A Prostate biopsy is the only test that can confirm the diagnosis, which is where the tissue from the prostate is viewed underneath a microscope. Biopsy results are reported using Gleason grade and a Gleason score. The Gleason grade is how aggressive the prostate cancer might be. It grades tumors on a scale of 1 - 5, based on how different from normal tissue the cells are. The Gleason score is the sum of the grades from two samples of the largest areas of cancer in the tissue taken during biopsy. A PSA blood test will also be used to monitor your cancer after treatment. Often, PSA levels will begin to rise before there are any symptoms.

The best treatment for your prostate cancer may not always be clear. In the early stages, talk to your doctor about the treatment options best for you. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with sexual desire or performance. Problems with urine control are common after surgery and radiation therapy. These problems may either improve or get worse over time, depending on the treatment. HIFU is an acoustic ablation technology that harnesses the power of ultrasound waves to destroy deep-seated tissue in areas of the body that are hard to reach with traditional treatments. HIFU can be used as a prostate cancer salvage technique when other non-repeatable treatments fail. Surgery to remove the prostate and some of the tissue around it is an option when the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland. This surgery is called radical prostatectomy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy works best to treat prostate cancer that has not spread outside of the prostate. Testosterone is the body’s main male hormone which can cause prostate tumors to grow. Hormonal therapy is a treatment that decreases the effect of testosterone on prostate cancer. These treatments can prevent further growth and spread of cancer.

Many patients with prostate cancer that has not spread can be cured, as well as some patients whose cancer has not spread very much outside the prostate gland. Following a vegetarian, low-fat diet or one that is similar to the traditional Japanese diet, which would include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, may lower your risk.

Dr. Kevin Blumenthal was born and raised in Northern Virginia and obtained his undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia.

Article from articlesbase.com

Prostate Cancer: A Cleveland Clinic Guide