Prostate cancer will affect 1 in 8 men, according to the American Cancer Society. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. More than 288,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 34,000 people will die of the disease.
The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Symptoms: Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
More advanced prostate cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Trouble urinating.
- Decreased force in the stream of urine.
- Blood in the urine.
- Blood in the semen.
- Bone pain.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Erectile dysfunction.
Risk factors: Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:
- Older age—Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age. It’s most common after 50.
- Race—Black men are at greater risk of prostate cancer than men of other races, and their prostate cancer is more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
- Family history—If a blood relative, such as a parent, sibling, or child, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer―BRCA1 or BRCA2―or a strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
- Obesity—Men who are obese may have a higher risk of prostate cancer compared with men considered to have a healthy weight, though studies have had mixed results. In men who are obese, the cancer is more likely to be more aggressive and more likely to return after initial treatment.
If you’re concerned about your risk, you may be interested in prostate cancer prevention. While there’s no proven prevention strategy, you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer by making healthy choices regarding your diet, weight, and exercise.
If treatment is recommended, options can include:
- Surgery to remove the prostate.
- Radiation therapy.
- Ablative therapies.
- Hormone therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapy.
- Targeted drug therapy.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/
Latest surgical procedures for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers for men in the United States, which is why early detection is so important.
“Early diagnosis means the possibility of finding the prostate cancer at an earlier stage, so we can offer you less invasive alternatives that can give us good oncological cancer control but reduce the side effects,” explained Ruben Olivares, MD, urology specialist for Cleveland Clinic.
Treatment options for prostate cancer depend on the severity.
For example, Dr. Olivares said some individuals may only need to do active surveillance, meaning they’ll be monitored to see if the cancer progresses. If the cancer is more aggressive, their physician may recommend undergoing radiation or getting their entire prostate removed.
And for intermediate-level cancer, they could be eligible for high-intensity focused therapy, which uses ultrasound waves to get rid of the cancer. This kind of procedure can help reduce common side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Olivares said there’s also another newer procedure called “nanoknife” that has similar benefits. It works by killing cancer cells with high-voltage electrical pulses.
“The good news is that the cells just inside that area where the electrodes are located is going to receive the electrical pulses, so that precise area is going to be destroyed, preserving the surrounding structure,” he said.
Men are encouraged to get their first prostate cancer screening by age 50.
However, if you have a family history, you should have the exam at 45.
Source: ccnewsservice@ccf.org
