Prostate Cancer - Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. The good news is that prostate cancer is very curable. As with any cancer, the outcome is always better if it is caught early. Prostate cancer is associated with aging and men are deemed more susceptible the older they are. Catching prostate cancer early is the best way for a man to increase their chances of survival and that involves knowing the symptoms and seeing a doctor regularly.

The uncontrolled growth of cells around the outer region of the prostate, which gives rise to the development of a malignant tumor, is called prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is common among American males. Over 250,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States every year. Early signs of prostate cancer are difficult to detect. Symptoms only set in once the tumor spreads. Change in urination habits with increased frequency or dribbling are the first signs of prostate cancer.

Causes

Prostate cancer also causes symptoms such as a difficulty in achieving an erection and painful ejaculation, although these do not necessarily mean the cancer is in its late stages. Prostate cancer is the second most likely cause of cancer related death in the UK, although successful treatments have become more and more common in the last twenty years. This is shown by the fact that survival rates have jumped nearly 40% between 1975 and 2001 (according to the NHS). Prostate cancer late stages are most common amongst men of over 50.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, these early signs of prostate cancer can be caused by other problems, such as acute or chronic prostatitis or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There is no specific warning sign or symptoms of prostate cancer. There are two tests doctors perform to aid in early detection of prostate cancer: a rectal exam (feeling the prostate gland through the rectum) and PSA (protein-specific antigen). Neither of these tests is specific, either.

Prostate cancer involves the dangerous duplication of malignant cells in the male prostate gland, or the reproductive organ that sits right below the belly and above the urethra. Almost half of men will suffer from problems with their prostate, but even those diagnosed with prostate cancer will likely have an excellent prognosis. The key is to detect the cancer as early as possible.

Prostate cancer symptoms often appear in the late stages of the disease. But this does not mean that prostate cancer cannot be diagnosed in the early stages. Most middle aged and older men suffer from the most common prostate problem called the enlarged prostate or the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Treatment

The treatment approach for prostate cancer will depend on whether it is in its early stages or whether it has got more advanced. Note that if the prostate cancer is detected in too advanced stage, it might spread to bones even and become more or less uncontrollable. The best way to keep prostate cancer at bay is to take proactive approach by consulting doctor (and even going for blood test) regularly and hence catch prostate cancer in its early stages. Surgery, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy are the most usual ways of treating prostate cancer. However, chemotherapy may be used too.

One prostate cancer treatment option is radiation therapy. This prostate cancer treatment includes the use of radiation of high energy from protons, neutrons, gamma rays and x-rays, as well as other sources to kill the cancerous cells and to shrink any existing tumors. There are two ways that radiation therapy can be administered as prostate cancer treatment. The first is from a machine that is located outside your body called external beam radiation therapy, or you may have material that is radioactive that is placed in your body near where the cancer is located. This is referred to as internal radiation therapy.