Prostate Cancer | Prostate Information

Most cells in the body undergo a normal process of dividing, maturing and dying. Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow uncontrollably. Cancer cells divide and mature but they don’t die. They continue to grow and produce more cells. Prostate cancer occurs when the abnormal cells form clusters or tumors in the prostate.

This type of cancer begins as small groups of tumors located within the prostate. When the cancer is at this stage the disease is over 90% curable, unfortunately it is almost impossible to detect because patients experience little or no symptoms. Prostate cancer is a slow growing cancer; in many instances it takes almost 10 years from onset for it to get to a point where it becomes problematic.

If the cancer becomes problematic, and is allowed to continue to grow, it can spread in a process called metastasis. This occurs when the cancer leaves the prostate and invades other parts of the body. This is done through the body’s lymph nodes. The cancer enters the lymph nodes and travels through the blood stream to other parts of the body. The original tumors in the prostate are known as the primary tumors. When prostate cancer travels, it can enter lymph nodes, body organs and even bone, but it is still considered prostate cancer. The tumors formed in the new body parts are known as secondary tumors.

Stage 1 – tumor cannot be felt during a rectal exam, but other tests such as a PSA blood test can detect the disease
Stage 2 – tumor can be felt during a rectal exam, but has not spread past the prostate
Stage 3 - tumor has spread outside the prostate gland and into the seminal vesicles
Stage 4 – tumor has spread outside the prostate gland, into the seminal vesicles, as well as into lymph nodes and other organs of the body

There are many risk factors that attribute to prostate cancer, but the most important are age, ethnicity, diet and genetics.

Age:
It is still unclear why age contributes to the onset of prostate cancer, but it is believed that age is the most important factor in the development of prostate cancer. Men under the age of 40 rarely develop prostate cancer, but as men reach into their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, prostate cancer becomes an overwhelming possibility. While age is the number one factor, it is said that most old men die with prostate cancer, not from it. Prostate cancer is most often slow-growing; men diagnosed often pass away without the disease ever hindering their life expectancy.

Race:
Race is another important factor in the development of prostate cancer. While White American men do outnumber African American men, African Americans are the most highly susceptible race to prostate cancer. It is unknown why that is, but most feel genetics and diet play a large part in this. North America and Northern Europe are the two areas of the world where the percentages of prostate cancer are at their highest.

Diet:
It is believed by many that diet can strongly influence susceptibility to prostate cancer. No conclusive evidence has been found that points to certain foods, but those whose diets are low in fat and consist largely of fruits and vegetables seem less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Genetics:
Genetics causes human ailments to be passed from one generation to the next. While it is believed that heredity is responsible for less than 10% of prostate cancer in families, men who have close relatives with the disease have an alarmingly high rate of susceptibility.

The early stages of prostate cancer rarely cause symptoms. However, in some cases, men with prostate cancer may experience one or all of these problems:

Fever and chills
Burning and painful urination
Frequent urination, especially at night
Lower abdominal pressure and pain
Difficulty urinating
Painful ejaculation
Blood in the urine
Lower back pain

These symptoms can be caused by prostate cancer as well as other prostate diseases so it is imperative to have physicians thoroughly check in order to properly diagnose your condition. If you are a man over the age of 50 and experience any of these symptoms, you should speak with a doctor immediately. Men over the age of 45 should consider prostate screening to ensure that the onset of any prostate problems are detected.

Prostate cancer is a very complex disease and it reacts differently in different people. There are several treatment options, and it is very difficult to determine which treatment is best for each patient. It is very important to determine what stage the cancer is in and how fast it might be growing. Some prostate cancer grows and spreads very quickly, whereas others simply stay in the prostate without causing any problems. Correctly diagnosing the prostate cancer is the key to treatment. There are several treatment options available including, localized treatment options, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.

These options are given to patients who are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, which means the cancer resides within the prostate or in the general area of the gland. The choice for localized treatment should be based on the patient’s age, general health and the stage and grade of the cancer. Patients are given three options when dealing with localized cancer, watchful waiting, radiation or surgery.

If the cancer is in early stages or very low grade, watching and waiting may be the best approach. Cancer progression is monitored closely, but some men feel it is better to delay unpleasant treatment as well as the potential treatment side effects.

Radiation involves killing the cancer cells and surrounding tissue with radioactive material. This is generally the treatment option that is used by men that, because of their health status, age and cancer stage, are not ideal candidates for surgery. Radiation is a non-invasive procedure that does not involve nearly as many risks as an open procedure, yet should still be thoroughly considered because there are many potential side effects, some which could be permanent.

Surgery involves removing the entire prostate gland. Surgery is only recommended when the cancer is contained within the prostate, when it is in its early stages and when the patient is relatively young and healthy. Surgery is a way to effectively stop the cancer in its tracks, but side effects from the procedure could be life altering.

Prostate cancer cells survive and thrive on male hormones or androgens. One such androgen is testosterone. Hormonal therapy cannot cure cancer but it can effectively reduce the number of androgens in the prostate which will cause the prostate cancer to either shrink or grow more slowly. The results of this form of therapy will only be temporary because not all cancer cells require androgens in order to survive. Many times, this therapy is used in conjunction with radiation in order to increase its effectiveness.

Chemotherapy is a class of drugs that effectively kill off rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells. Inhibiting rapid cell division can slow down the growth of the cancer. Chemotherapy is most often used on those patients that are in the advanced stages of prostate cancer and are no longer responding to hormonal therapy. This therapy can be beneficial to many patients, but it does pose a certain amount of concern because in the process of killing cancer cells, it also inhibits the division of non-cancerous cells. There are also side effects that can temporarily hinder normal daily activities. The most common are hair loss, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Regular checkups can help to detect the prostate cancer early, so that if it does occur, you will have greater chances to aggressively fight the disease. The two ways in which doctors can detect the disease are through rectal exams and PSA tests.

Rectal exams allow the doctor to feel the prostate, while this can be effective, this exam only allows the doctor to feel three sides of the prostate, therefore, it is not 100% effective.
PSA tests are blood tests that detect a protein made specifically by the prostate. The prostate normally produces a very small amount of this protein, but when prostate cancer invades the prostate, the production of this protein increases. A PSA test can detect the increase in production of the protein.

The best prevention methods for prostate cancer are to alter the risk factors that are under your control. Maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as exercising daily can reduce your risk of developing the disease.

If detected early enough, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and patients can live a relatively normal life. No matter which treatment a patient undergoes, there will be side effects which may very well hinder normal daily activities.

It is important to remember that prostate cancer grows very slowly, and if detected, could have little or no effect on life expectancy. Yearly prostate exams will ensure early detection which will allow for the most aggressive treatment possible. Being aware of the condition of your prostate can be truly beneficial and can have a profound effect on the rest of your life.