Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is becoming common among men of all age groups. However, prostate cancer usually affects men after the age of 50. While there is no specific reason for a person to suffer from prostate cancer, genes, high intake of red meat or high-fat dairy products, obesity, etc. are some of the causes for prostate cancer in men.
Symptoms
A frequent urge to urinate, difficulty in urinating, finding blood in the urine, painful urination, problems related to erection etc.
Diagnosis
If the diagnosis for the prostate cancer is done in early stages, then there is a high life expectancy for the patient with many therapies like hormone therapy, radiation therapy etc. If the diagnosis for prostate cancer is done before spreading to other organs, then there is a guarantee of five years of life time to the patient.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer is done through regular PSA blood checkups. Patients with the above-mentioned symptoms are tested for higher PSA blood levels. A digital rectal examination is performed, wherein the doctor manually checks for the abnormal growth.
A biomarker test is performed to check the urine, tissue or blood samples to check for particular cancer chemicals. A test to check urine is performed for PCA3, which is particular to prostate cancer. A rectal examination, MRI, CT scan, biopsy of tissue in the prostate region are performed to find the advanced prostate cancer.
Treatment
Treatment varies based on the stage of the cancer. The prostate is surgically removed or through a robotic keyhole surgery. In another treatment called branchy therapy, radioactive seeds are sent to the affected area.
Usually the hormone treatment and radiation therapy are given to patients in early stages of prostate cancer. The advanced prostate cancer spreads to bones and to various organs. So, chemotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy are given to patients with late-stage advanced prostate cancer to stop the spreading of cancer cells.
Research
Prostate cancer research is being done in this country and various other countries on a regular basis. The hormone is usually prescribed to patients with early stages of prostate cancer. Even though the exact reasons for prostate cancer are not known lifestyle habits, obesity, misuse of certain medication are found to be some of the reasons for the prostate cancer.
It is highly advisable to perform a regular checkup for men above 50. There will be some irregularities in men related to prostrate after the age of 50 and these irregularities should not be ignored. Visiting a specialist and knowing about the symptoms related to prostate cancer can help in finding cancer at early stages.