Prostate Cancer

The malignant growth of cells in the prostate gland leads to prostate cancer.

The prostate gland produces the fluid which nourishes and transports sperms.

The cells of prostate gland at times due to various reasons start multiplying and growing rapidly out of control.

They spread or even metastasize to various other parts of the body like the bones and the lymph nodes.

The prostate cancer is the cancer of older people as this occurs in men over age 50 years. As age increases the risk to develop the disease also increases.

The prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and more deaths are reported in men due to this disease than any other cancer. Though lung cancer forms the highest cancer deaths this cancer is also not less dangerous.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is categorized into four basic stages depending on the size of the tumor, whether the lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) are affected and whether the tumor has spread anywhere else. The four basic stages of Prostate cancer are stage1,2,3 &4.

Most of the men after being diagnosed with this prostate cancer are frightened not because of the death but because of its affect on the sexuality. This threat is due to the after treatment consequences experienced which include the bladder control problems and Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or even impotency caused.

In spite of its dreadful affects the prostate cancer patients do not undergo prompt therapy for better survival results. They are seldom aware of the disease in its initial stage as it shows no symptoms.

People with prostate cancer die due to some other reasons by the time it is diagnosed and treated. The common prostate cancer symptoms which may be reflected are the pain during urination, erectile dysfunction. The causes behind the development of prostate cancer include genetics and diet (Prostate Cancer Causes).

The diagnosis of the prostate cancer is performed by blood tests and physical examination. A test which is called prostate specific antigen test is also done for confirmation of the disease.

For thorough confirmation of the disease the biopsy is done which involves the observation of the part of the diseased tissue under the microscope. To check whether the disease has metastasized further tests, such as X-rays and bone scans may be performed.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

Like any other cancer the treatment gives better results if the prostate cancer is confined to just the gland without being spread to any other region or organ.

Also there is chance of fewer side effects with good treatment if the stage of the cancer is initial. In advanced cases also the chances of survival are better if the treatment is given promptly.

Prostate cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, occasionally chemotherapy, or some combination of these. The age and underlying health of the man as well as the extent of spread, appearance under the microscope, and response of the cancer to initial treatment are important in determining the outcome of the disease.