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Prostate Cancer

Aside from skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men. Those with a family background of prostate cancer, cancer in general, and poor nutrition/lifestyle choices are more prone to this deadly disease. Here is some basic information about this disease.

Symptoms

Some cancers have the ability to grow and mature without detection, but cancer of the prostate can create obvious signs of its presence. Any combination of these symptoms may be signs that a person has it:

Difficulty beginning or controlling the flow of urine
Painful urination, sometimes with blood
Frequent urination
Night time urination (also frequent)
Burning sensation with urination, similar to a urinary tract infection
Trouble achieving an erection; ejaculation is painful and shows presence of blood
Discomfort in back, thighs, and/or hips, stiffness in muscles in those areas

Of course, often these symptoms are caused by something else, so anyone who experiences them should go to the doctor immediately for tests.

Diagnosis

One of the first things a doctor will likely do is take blood for the PSA test. This will determine the amount of PSA, a protein released by the prostate, in the blood--high PSA levels may indicate the presence of cancer. However, some men with prostate cancer register low on the PSA scale, so a DRE (direct rectal examination) is also done. This process is so important that the American Cancer Society advises men to get an annual PSA and DRE after age 50.

If the PSA and DRE indicate the possible presence of cancer, a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken and sent to a lab for analysis. Not only will this determine the presence of the cancer, but will reveal the stage and direction treatment should take.

Treatments

Although there are several treatments available, if you have prostate cancer you and your doctor will determine the course of action. Possible treatments include surgery to remove the prostate, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and several new techniques that are now becoming available.

If you need surgery, make sure you get someone who has the skill to preserve the nerve tissue. This is very difficult and you want a surgeon of great skill--do not price shop when it comes to prostate surgery.

Radiation and chemotherapy have come a long way, and some people these days do not experience side effects, although this depends greatly on the dosage and drug. Each of these techniques is divided into subcategories, so talk to your doctor about all options.

Hormone therapy can help stop the advancement of prostate cancer by denying the prostate--and therefore the cancer cells--the hormones necessary to grow. Keep in mind that this does not cure it, only stops it from growing.

Other advancing therapies include cryotherapy (freezing), ultrasound, and immunotherapy. If you are inclined to help with research, talk to your doctor about participating in special programs for emerging therapies. However, keep in mind that your first goal is to survive cancer, and that should remain your goal throughout your therapy.