What Is Prostate Cancer and How Common Is It?
The prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut located in the lower part of the male abdomen and is part of the male reproductive system. The gland produces the fluid containing sperm (semen) that is expelled from the penis during ejaculation. Prostate cancer refers to the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells within this gland, causing a malignant (cancerous) tumor.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. Additionally, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths (after lung cancer) among men in the United States. For 2018, the ACS forecasts the diagnosis of approximately 165,000 new cases of prostate cancer, with a total of approximately 29,000 deaths from this cancer.
Am I at Risk for Prostate Cancer?
No one knows the exact cause of prostate cancer, but major risk factors for its development include:
Older age
The majority of cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, and the diagnosis is rare in men younger than the age of 40.
Race
African-American men are not only far more commonly diagnosed with, but also are more likely to die from, prostate cancer than Caucasian men. The reasons for this racial disparity are not fully understood.
Family history
Some men can inherit genes that make them more likely to develop prostate cancer. A diagnosis of prostate cancer in a first-degree male relative (father, brother, or son) significantly increases a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
In its early stages, prostate cancer is most often silent and many men do not have any symptoms. As prostate cancer progresses, it more likely to culminate in symptoms. The following may be symptoms of prostate cancer:
Frequent and/or urgent need to urinate
Weak urine stream
Frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
Blood in the urine or semen
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Bone pain, which is frequently a sign that prostate cancer has spread
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical evaluation, because these symptoms could be due to prostate cancer or noncancerous conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, an “enlarged prostate”), urinary tract infection (UTI), prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), or kidney stones.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Screening for prostate cancer in men with no symptoms is a controversial topic, and the medical establishment has many differing opinions on when to initiate screening measures. The ACS recommends that men make an informed decision on whether or not to be screened for prostate cancer after a discussion with their healthcare provider. The appropriate timing for the discussion about prostate cancer screening is as follows:
- Age 50 for men at average risk for developing prostate cancer with a life expectancy of 10 or more years.
- Age 45 for men at high risk for developing prostate cancer (i.e., African Americans and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65)
- Age 40 for men at highest risk for developing prostate cancer (i.e., more than one first-degree relative with an early diagnosis [< 65 years old] of the cancer)
The methods used for prostate cancer screening include:
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA)
This is a blood test that measures PSA, a substance produced by the prostate. Higher than normal levels may be indicative of prostate cancer as well as other diagnoses, such as enlargement, infection, or inflammation of the prostate. - Digital rectal exam (DRE)
In this exam, your physician will insert a gloved finger into your rectum to feel for any irregularities in the size, shape, or consistency of the prostate.
The best screening results are obtained from the combination of the PSA and DRE, as some men can have prostate cancer with a normal PSA. In these men, a DRE may reveal abnormalities, which would, despite a normal PSA, compel physicians to perform further investigations of the prostate. A prostate biopsy, which collects samples of prostate cells to look at under the microscope, is the most common method to diagnose prostate cancer. After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, other imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and bone scan, may be used to determine your cancer stage and whether or not the prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
How Is Prostate Cancer Treated?
Once your prostate cancer has been diagnosed and staged, a personalized treatment plan will be formulated by your team of physicians. Treatment options for prostate cancer include the following:
- Watchful waiting, especially in men over the age of 70 with a less than 10-year life expectancy
- Surgery to remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy), which can be done traditionally or with robotic assistance
- Radiation therapy, which can be done outside your body with X-rays (external beam radiation) or inside your body by implanting radioactive seeds into your prostate (brachytherapy)
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Freezing prostate tissue, also known as cryotherapy or cryoablation
- Immunotherapy with vaccines
What’s New on the Horizon for Prostate Cancer Treatment?
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a newly emerging treatment option for prostate cancer. It serves as an alternative to aggressive complete surgical removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy). HIFU uses ultrasound waves to heat and kill cancer cells within the prostate, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prostate cancer treatment in October 2015. HIFU has several benefits over traditional prostate cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, cryotherapy and hormone therapy:
- Minimally invasive technique
No surgery and no damage to other bodily structures. - No hospital stay
It’s an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day! - Quick recovery time
A few days versus a few months compared to traditional therapies. - Minimal side effects
No incisions, scars, or blood loss. Reduced chances of both urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED) compared to traditional treatments.
Prostate cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men in the United States. As a result, there is extensive ongoing research into the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of this disease. Perhaps in the future, innovation in one or all of these areas can lead to decreases in the prevalence of and deaths attributed to prostate cancer.
Compassionate guidance and care
Look for specially trained pharmacy teams that can bridge the gap between patients and providers to give you access to specialty medications not always available at retail pharmacies. Services like QuickRx are specially trained in understanding complex therapies associated with treating chronic health conditions.
About Comprehensive Urology
Comprehensive Urology in Los Angeles is a well-known urological practice that attracts patients from all over the country. The doctors at the practice are always up-to-date on the most innovative treatments for urologic conditions, especially when it comes to prostate cancer. They provide minimally invasive treatment with compassion and an individualized approach for each patient.
Sources
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087
https://www.everydayhealth.com/prostate-cancer/guide/
https://www.healthline.com/health/prostate-cancer
