Prostate Cancer What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate, a gland found only in men, is about the size of a walnut and located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The tube that carries urine (the urethra) runs through the prostate. Although there are several cells types in the prostate, nearly all prostate cancers start in the gland cells. This kind of cancer is known as adenocarcinoma. Most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly; however prostate cancer sometimes can grow and spread quickly. Facts: Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in American men. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately one out of every six American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. Autopsy studies show that many older men, who died of other diseases, also had prostate cancer that was undiagnosed. According to the Illinois State Cancer Registry, the incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer are higher in African-American men than white men. In 2008, about 8,340 new cases of invasive prostate cancer will be diagnosed and there will be 1,330 deaths. Trends in mortality rates for prostate cancer by race/ethnicity in the United States indicate that death rates for prostate cancer have decreased for all racial/ethnic groups.
What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer?
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. Several factors, listed below, can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Age: The risk of developing prostate increases with age. In the United States, most men with prostate cancer are older than 65 years of age; it is rare in men younger than 45. Men age 75 years and older have a one in nine chance of developing prostate cancer. Race: For unknown reasons, prostate cancer is more common among African-American men than white men. African-American men are twice as likely to die of the disease. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian men than in whites. Family history: Men with close family members (father or brother) who have had prostate cancer are at higher risk, especially if their relatives were young at diagnosis.
Body Weight: The risk of dying of prostate cancer increase with body weight. Diet: Red meat or high-fat dairy products appear to increase the risk for prostate cancer. A diet low in fruits and vegetables also increases the risk. Hormones: High levels of male hormones (androgens) may play a part in increased prostate cancer risk. Also, some research indicates men with high levels of the hormone IGF-1 are more likely to get prostate cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Prostate cancer?
A man with prostate cancer may not have any symptoms. Common symptoms include:
urinary problems (inability to urinate or difficulty starting or stopping the urine flow, frequent urination especially at night, weak or interrupted flow of urine, or pain or burning during urination difficulty having or keeping an erection blood in the urine or semen frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs loss of bladder or bowel control
These can be symptoms of cancer, but more often they are symptoms of an enlargement of the prostate gland that is not from cancer. It is important to report any of these symptoms to a physician.
How to Prevent Prostate Cancer:
Although the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, some cases might be prevented.
Prostate cancer risk may be reduced by eating less red meat and fat and eating more vegetables, fruits and grains. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon are rich in substances (lycopenes) that help prevent damage to DNA and may help lower prostate cancer risk. Vitamin A supplements may actually increase prostate cancer risk. Its always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking vitamins or supplements. Talk with your doctor or health care provider about having a Prostate Specific Antigen test and digital rectal exams of the prostate gland. Many doctors recommend that these exams be done yearly beginning at age 50.
If there is a history of prostate cancer in close family members, talk with your doctor about starting yearly screenings at a younger age.
WARNING SIGNS:
The following are the signs of prostate cancer. But keep in mind that they do not always occur, and are not necessarily indicators of cancer, but could indicate another condition.
Blood appearing in the urine stream. Smaller or weaker urine stream. The urge to urinate frequently, but producing only small amounts. Painful urination. Inability to fully empty the bladder. The uncontrolled dribbling of urine. Difficulty beginning to urinate. Pain with ejaculation.
What are warning symptoms and signs of prostate cancer? Consult your doctor if you (or your man) experience any of the following signs and symptoms. . . 1. Hematuria Hematuria is characterized by traces of blood in your urine. Blood in the urine must be brought to the attention of your doctor as it is one of the signs of prostate cancer. 2. Impotence If you have been experiencing trouble having an erection, better have it checked by your doctor. 3. Weakness or numbness in legs or feet Weakness or numbness can be warning signs that the tumor may have spread to the spine. 4. Pain in passing urine
Sometimes pain may mean other medical conditions such as urinary tract infection or the presence of kidney stones. It's best to undergo a urine test to eliminate the possibility of tumor. 5. Unexplained pain When you experience pain at your back,hips,pelvis and ribs which can't be explained, go and see a doctor. Unexplained pain may indicate that the tumor has spread to your bones. A tumor in your glands often grows slowly especially among older men. The slow growth of the tumor is the reason why signs and symptoms may be mild and may occur for many years. Some men may never notice the earlier symptoms or warning signs of prostate cancer and when diagnosed, the disease is, unfortunately, already in late-stage. Read more: [Link]
Signs and symptoms
The clinical manifestations of prostate cancer result from the effects of local growth of the tumor, the spread to regional lymph nodes via the lymphatics, and the hematogenous dissemination to distant metastatic sites. Although most patients with early-stage prostate cancer are asymptomatic, locally advanced disease can lead to obstructive or irritative voiding symptoms that result from local tumor growth into the urethra or bladder neck, extension into the trigone of the bladder, or both. Prostate cancer most often spreads to bone, commonly leading to bone pain. A small but important subset of patients develop spinal cord impingement from the epidural spread of disease, resulting in pain and neurologic compromise that, depending on the location of the spinal lesion, could include the irreversible loss of bowel and bladder function and the ability to walk. Other common sites of metastatic spread include lymph nodes, with some patients presenting with progressive lymphedema, renal insufficiency, or both as a consequence of obstruction of pelvic lymphatics and ureteral outlet obstruction.