One of the most
common cancers in males, prostate cancer is cancer that begins in a man's
prostate — a small walnut-sized gland that sits just beneath a man’s bladder
and produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. According
to latest estimates, about 6.78 per cent Indian males suffer from prostate
cancer. When prostate cancer is detected
at its earliest stages, the chance of successful treatment is very good. But
most prostate cancers are discovered at a late stage, when the prognosis is
often very poor. Factors that can increase risk of prostate cancer include age,
weight and family history. The chances of prostate cancer are greater if you’re
an older person. People who are obese are at higher risk for developing advanced stage
of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common in people who have a family
history of prostate cancer.
While in its early
stages prostate cancer may not produce symptoms, signs and symptoms in advanced
stages include trouble urinating, decreased force when urinating, increased
frequency of urination, discomfort in the pelvic area, blood in the semen and
urine, erectile dysfunction and bone pain. Doctor may be able to diagnose
prostate cancer by performing a physical examination. If he or she suspects
there’s an underlying cause to your condition, imaging tests such as bone scan,
ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan
and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. It is not necessary for every
person to undergo every test. Your doctor will help determine which tests are
suitable for you.
What prostate cancer
treatment options are available to you depend on several factors, such as how
fast your cancer is growing, the stage of your cancer, your overall health,
personal preferences, as well as the benefits and the potential side effects of
the treatment. While there are various options for treating prostate cancer,
surgery is the main treatment for prostate cancer in the early stages.
Palliative care can come to the rescue of a seriously ill patient.
As is the case with
many types of cancer, the earlier your prostate cancer is detected, the easier
it is to treat it. But in many cases prostate cancers are detected in later
stages. This is because when the tumor is small as is the case in initial
stages, it generally does not produce symptoms. In recent years, research on prostate cancer
has reached the point where halting its progression is a distinct possibility.
You can definitely reduce your risk of prostate cancer by choosing a healthy
diet and avoiding high-fat foods. A new laser-based therapy for treatment for
prostate cancer has come to light. Called vascular-targeted photodynamic
therapy (VPDT), the therapy eliminates the need of surgery and has the
potential of shortening the duration of side-effects. With the passage of time
researchers and scientists are making right steps in the right directions in
understanding and treating prostate cancer. They are always looking for new
ways to detect and treat aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Very useful article!! I only wish it was divided into sections, and with bullet points, so that it is not only easy to read, but also easy to remember.
ReplyDeletethank you for useful information
ReplyDeleteFor men who have high PSA levels but biopsies don’t find cancer, there is a urine test known as a PCA-3 that looks for cancer. This test can prevent the need for repeat biopsies in some men.
very useful and helpful article i will share it with my friends so it know about useful thing
ReplyDeletethank you
The article says 6.78% of Indian males suffer from prostate cancer. It is such a very high figure, very scary to think that every 8th male person will get prostate cancer.
ReplyDeleteHow will a common man bear the cost of “imaging tests such as bone scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan and positron emission tomography (PET) scan” etc. which is mentioned in the article? Unless government hospital have these facilities, it would be very tough for poor people.
In Delhi, the government has just made all radiological tests for all irrespective of income. Perhaps more such initiatives are needed.
DeleteFrom the article, it seems the diagnosis of prostate cancer at early stage is difficult, as it develops without much discomfort to the patient. Even the Tests are also very expensive for poor patients.
ReplyDeleteHmm…. Good article, it is easy to read and understand. I never thought prostate cancer is so common and curable in initial stages.
ReplyDeletevery informative for people
ReplyDeletevery helpful post reading this post indian public awar about cancer thank you and please more this type of article
ReplyDeleteWhy don’t we hear more about proton therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer?
ReplyDeleteNo one knows the exact causes of prostate cancer or why some types are more aggressive than others. It is believed that damage or mutations to DNA cause normal prostate cells to become cancerous cells. Other factors that may also play a role include:
ReplyDeleteAge
Family history
Race
Hormones
Ethnicity
Diet
Environment
have heard a lot of advertising about a treatment device called the CyberKnife. Should a patient consider this alternative?
ReplyDeleteDepending on the stage, yes. As a new development, it is quite expensive.
DeleteMost men do not have any physical symptoms with early prostate cancer. As prostate cancer advances, some men may need to urinate more often or may find their ability to urinate is slowed or weakened.
ReplyDelete