The prostate gland is a walnut-shaped small gland of the male reproductive system situated below the urinary bladder and in the frontal end of the rectum. The function of the prostate gland is to add its secretion in the semen for the smooth movement of the sperm.

Prostate cancer is well known to spread among the men with no early signs that make it even more threatening. It is among the second most diagnosed cancer in the hierarchy of cancer diagnosis.

What are the causes of prostate cancer?
The prostate carcinoma may be caused by several interrelated factors. Some of the factors include;

• The individual who has a diet rich in fat develop the chances of having prostate carcinoma in near future.
• Testosterone is one of the prominent causes of prostate carcinoma. This is due to the fact that testosterone is responsible to support the cell to proliferate.
• Generally, it is developed in men of the age group 40 and above. Prostate cancer has resulted in the death of men who are above the age of 75.
• Family history and ethnicity are among the less recognized cause. It is found that if there is a family history of prostate carcinoma the subject may be likely to develop prostate carcinoma. Similarly, the Africans run on high chances of having prostate carcinoma which accounts to be twice as compared to the Americans.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer accompanies well-demarcated sign and symptoms some of which includes;

• Burning sensation while ejaculation and urination.
• The presence of blood in the semen and urine is the most prominent indication of prostate carcinoma.
• There might be a difficulty in regulating the speed of the urine flow. It may be difficult to hold back the urine for a long time.
• The patient can also experience pain in the bones.
• There is a decreased flow of urine due to the occurrence of prostate cancer.
• Constant discomfort in the pelvic region, upper thighs, and lower back.
• Another problem encountered is the erectile dysfunction as the symptoms get worse.
• There can be swelling in the lower portions.
• Prostate carcinoma accompanied by fatigue and nausea can be seen in the later stages of this disease.

How can prostate cancer be treated?
There are a number of treatment options based on the severity of the disease. Some of the treatment measures include;

• Hormonal therapy is the initial therapy where the patient is subjected to have androgen depriving medication that regulates the testosterone level which in turn is responsible to support the cancerous prostate cell to grow. It either inhibits the production of the testosterone or blocks the hormone to act on the prostate cells.
• Taxane or the platinum chemotherapeutic agents that are used to restrict the metastatic cell of the prostate. It is approved to cure the patient in the advanced prostate cancer stage. The proton beam radiation is another advanced therapy to treat cancer.
• EBRT is the common among the radiation therapy that maps the location of the tumor cells and targets to kill the cell. Another less common therapy that oncologist undertake is the brachytherapy where catheters are placed inside the gland on a temporary basis that emits radiation up to a certain distance.
• Radical Prostatectomy is done when the major portion of the prostate gland is affected and as a result, the entire prostate gland is removed surgically. This can be done either by open surgery or through laparoscopy.