Prostate Cancer

The prostate is the gland below a man's bladder that produces fluid for semen. Prostate cancer is common among older men. It is rare in men younger than 40. Risk factors for developing prostate cancer include being over 65 years of age, family history, and being African-American.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include

Problems passing urine, such as pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling
Low back pain
Pain with ejaculation

To diagnose prostate cancer, you doctor may do a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual. You may also get a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). These tests are also used in prostate cancer screening, which looks for cancer before you have symptoms. If your results are abnormal, you may need more tests, such as an ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy.

Treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. How fast the cancer grows and how different it is from surrounding tissue helps determine the stage. Men with prostate cancer have many treatment options. The treatment that's best for one man may not be best for another. The options include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. You may have a combination of treatments.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The following features are indicative of Prostate Cancer:

trouble urinating
decreased force in the stream of urine
blood in the semen or urine
discomfort in the pelvic area
body pain
erectile dysfunction
dribbling or leakage of urine
straining when urinating

It is possible that Prostate Cancer shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Prostate Cancer

The following are the most common causes of Prostate Cancer:

DNA mutations

Other Causes of Prostate Cancer

The following are the less common causes of Prostate Cancer:

alcohol
high fat diet
cadmium exposure

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Prostate Cancer:

older age
Black men
family history
obesity
agent orange exposure
cadmium exposure
high fat diet intake

Prevention of Prostate Cancer

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Prostate Cancer. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables
maintain a healthy weight
regularly exercise

Occurrence of Prostate Cancer

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Prostate Cancer cases seen each year worldwide:

Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Prostate Cancer most commonly occurs in the following age group:

Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Prostate Cancer most commonly occurs in the following gender:

Male

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Prostate Cancer:

Digital rectal exam (DRE): To examine prostate
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: To analyze levels of prostate-specific antigen
Ultrasound: To make a picture of prostate gland
Prostate biopsy: To determine whether cancer cells are present
Imaging tests: To determine the extent of cancer

Doctor for Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

Oncologist

Complications of Prostate Cancer if untreated

Yes, Prostate Cancer causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Prostate Cancer is left untreated:

spreading of cancer
incontinence
erectile dysfunction

Procedures for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The following procedures are used to treat Prostate Cancer:

Radiation therapy: To kill cancer cells
Brachytherapy: To kill cancer cells
Hormone therapy: To stop body from producing the male hormone testosterone
Orchiectomy: To remove testicles
Laparoscopic prostatectomy: To remove prostate
Chemotherapy: To kill rapidly growing cancer cells
Biological therapy: To fight cancer cells

Self-care for Prostate Cancer

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Prostate Cancer:

Follow healthy diet: Helps improving overall health
Choose healthy foods over supplements: Helps reducing risk of prostate cancer
Regular exercise: Helps to maintain weight and improves mood
Maintain healthy weight: Helps improving overall health

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Prostate Cancer:

Practicing art therapy: Helps to cope with distress
Practicing dance or movement therapy: Helps to cope with distress
Practicing meditation: Helps to cope with distress
Practicing music therapy: Helps to cope with stress
Practicing relaxation techniques: Helps to cope with distress

Patient Support for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The following actions may help Prostate Cancer patients:

Education: Helps patient feel comfortable making treatment decisions
Family and friends support: Helps with the small tasks that patient won't have energy for during treatment
Connect with other cancer survivors: Provides a unique network of support

Time for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Prostate Cancer to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: