Of all the various types of cancer diseases, prostate cancer affects men the most. More than 2.5 lakh men are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023, as stated by the American Cancer Society. Gone are the days when you felt shy to discuss men’s private health. Now, it is a matter of deep concern and needs more awareness.
Present in the lower abdomen of men, the prostate gland looks like a walnut. When there are cancerous cells in the small prostate gland, it can lead to a life-threatening health condition. Due to a lack of awareness and proper knowledge about prostate cancer, you tend to linger the disease to a point from where there is no coming back.
However, before you visit here, we have a blog related to prostate cancer to enhance your awareness. To be more precise, this blog will focus on prostate cancer, its causes, symptoms, early signs, screening, treatment, and a lot more. Let’s see what the blog has to tell you.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of malignant cells in the prostate. Gradually, these cells develop into a lump and form a tumor. The prostate gland is located in a delicate area of the man’s body. You will find it below the bladder, surrounded by the urethra. The functions of the prostate gland are:
- To help in the production of the seminal fluid
- To transport and nourish sperm
Sometimes, prostate cancer develops so slowly that even minimal treatment can cure it. However, in most cases, you tend to delay visiting a doctor’s chamber, and this worsens the condition, making it more aggressive. If prostate cancer remains confined only to the prostate gland, you can expect to have a successful treatment procedure.
Causes of prostate cancer
Unfortunately, there is no particular cause for prostate cancer. However, there can be some factors that enhance your likelihood of developing the disease. Factors that enhance your chance of being affected with prostate cancer include the following, along with maintaining good prostate health:
- If you are more than 50 years old
- If you have a family history of prostate cancer
- If you are overweight
- If you have undergone any genetic changes
- If you are an African American
Signs and symptoms indicating prostate cancer
Not everyone will experience the symptoms of prostate cancer. If the disease is a nonaggressive one, there will be no symptoms. Most of you notice some symptoms only when prostate cancer reaches an advanced stage. Some of the common symptoms of prostate cancer are as follows:
- Urinary problems
Since the prostate gland is located below the bladder surrounded by the urethra, prostate cancer creates some urinary problems. When you have prostate cancer, it leads to a tumor. This tumor in turn pressurises the urethra and bladder. As a result, it makes urination a painful experience. Due to this some urinary problems that you can suffer from include:
- an increased frequency of urinating
- production of blood in the urine
- an abnormally weaker or slower stream
- Sexual problems
People with prostate cancer suffer from erectile dysfunction. It impacts men in two ways:
- They fail to get an erection
- The erection fails to last long
In addition, prostate cancer can lead to bleeding while ejaculating semen.
- Numbness and pain
Prostate cancer can make you feel numb and weak, especially in the feet and legs. Once cancer starts spreading, your bowel and bladder go beyond your control. Sometimes, this can create pressure on your spinal cord.
Stages of prostate cancer
The American Joint Committee on Cancer has designed a TMN staging system that divides the stages of cancer by the following factors:
- The extent or the size of the tumor
- Cancer spreading or metastasizing to other locations
- Involvement of the lymph node
- Gleason score
- PSA level during diagnosis
Detecting prostate cancer
If you have to eliminate prostate cancer and lead a healthy life, you have to opt for early screening and detection. These are the ways that help to detect prostate cancer at an early stage:
- Prostate-specific antigen
The purposes of a prostate-specific antigen blood test are:
- To determine the presence of prostate cancer
- To identify the number of prostate proteins in your bloodstream
A higher level indicates the development of prostate cancer.
- Digital rectal examination
Unfortunately, there is no particular cause for prostate cancer. However, there can be some factors that enhance your likelihood of developing the disease. Factors that enhance your chance of being affected with prostate cancer include the following, along with maintaining good prostate health and undergoing regular digital rectal examinations
- Prostate imaging
The improved technology and radioactive rays help to capture a vivid image of your prostate and the area surrounding it. Here, medical professionals prefer using either an MRI scan or an ultrasound to capture the image.
- Prostate biopsy
Sometimes your doctor may ask you to undergo a prostate biopsy if he suspects a higher PSA level or the presence of cancerous cells from an examination. For this, the doctor collects a small sample of your prostate tissue for proper cell analysis.
Treatment for prostate cancer
The kind of treatment you need to eliminate prostate cancer depends on two factors – aggressive and non-aggressive. In case of aggressive prostate cancer, the doctor will heal it in these ways:
- radiation
- surgery
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- hormone therapy
- stereotactic radiosurgery
On the other hand, if prostate cancer is a nonaggressive one, the doctor will opt for active surveillance. Here, the doctor will ask you to come for regular check-ups to monitor the growth and spread of cancer. For better monitoring, the doctor may ask you to undergo a prostate-specific antigen blood test and digital rectal examination at an interval of every 6 months and one year respectively.
Conclusion
Therefore, if you can reach out to the doctor for early detection of the disease, you can get rid of the cancer easily. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the lesser will it get spread. If you notice any unusual symptoms in your prostate gland contact us today.
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