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:
  • In 1 - 3 months

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Prostate Cancer.
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate Diseases

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