PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Usually prostate cancer grows slowly and is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it 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.

Prostate cancer that’s detected early  when it’s still confined to the prostate gland has a better chance of successful treatment.

PROSTATE CANCER FACTS

• The prostate is a gland that is a part of the male reproductive system that wraps around the male urethra at its exit from the bladder.
• Common problems are benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), acute and chronic infections of the prostate (acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis), and chronic inflammation of the prostate that is not related to bacteria (chronic prostatitis [non-bacterial]).
• Prostate cancer is common in men over 50 years of age, with the risk of developing prostate cancer increasing with aging. Certain populations are at increased risk for developing prostate cancer, particularly African-Americans and men with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age.
• Symptoms of prostate problems (and prostate cancer) include urinary problems such as
  • decreased force of urine stream;
  • difficulty starting (hesitancy);
  • the need to strain to urinate;
  • stopping/starting of the urine stream (intermittency);
  • frequent urination;
  • dribbling;
  • pain or burning during urination,
  • erectile dysfunction;
  • painful ejaculation;
  • blood in urine or semen and/or deep back, hip, pelvic or abdominal pain;
  • other symptoms may include weight loss, bone pain and lower extremity swelling.
• Prostate cancer screening consists of periodic laboratory testing, usually every one to two years, which includes a prostate specific antigen(PSA) test and digital rectal examination. Prostate cancer screening is not for everyone and the pros/cons should be discussed with a primary care provider and/or urologist (specialist who treats problems with the urinary system).
• A concern for prostate cancer is raised when blood testing, PSA, is abnormally increased and/or an abnormal area of the prostate is felt on a rectal examination.
• Prostate cancer is definitively diagnosed by removal of small cores of prostate tissue (prostate biopsies), which are then examined under the microscope by a pathologist.
• Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer and cancer death in males; in some men, identifying it early may prevent/delay spread and death from prostate cancer.

 

SYMPTOMS

Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.

Prostate cancer that’s more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:

• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in semen
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Bone pain
• Erectile dysfunction

prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells’ DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can also break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

RISK FACTORS

Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:

• Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
• For reasons not yet determined, black men carry a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. In black men, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
• Family history.If men in your family have had 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 very strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
• Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that’s more difficult to treat.

 

COMPLICATIONS

Complications of prostate cancer include:

• Cancer that spreads (metastasizes).Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs, such as your bladder, or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Prostate cancer that spreads to the bones can cause pain and broken bones. Once prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, it may still respond to treatment and may be controlled, but it’s unlikely to be cured.
• Erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction can result from prostate cancer  surgery, radiation.

 

PREVENTION

You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables.Avoid high-fat foods and instead focus on choosing a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health.

Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proved. But eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.

Choose healthy foods over supplements.No studies have shown that supplements play a role in reducing your risk of prostate cancer. Instead, choose foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals so that you can maintain healthy levels of vitamins in your body.

Exercise most days of the week.Exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight and improves your mood. There is some evidence that men who don’t exercise have higher PSA levels, while men who exercise may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Try to exercise most days of the week. If you’re new to exercise, start slow and work your way up to more exercise time each day.

Maintain a healthy weight.If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, add more exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat each day.

 

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