Prostate Cancer
The prostate gland is involved in producing and storing semen. Normally it is the size of a walnut but increases when cancer starts to grow.
Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer in men but is often very slow growing which means you may not immediately need an operation if it is diagnosed. Watchful waiting with regular check ups is often recommended now by specialists.
Symptoms
Often the symptoms only occur after the cancer has grown enough to partly block the urethra, which takes your urine from bladder to theend of your penis and sometimes spread. They include
- Difficulty passing water
- Problems starting and stopping when passing water
- Frequent trips to the toilet, particularly at night
- A poor stream of urine
- Finding your urine starts and stops
- Sometimes pain or burning while you wee.
- Erection problems
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the lower back or upper thigh
All these symptoms are more likely to be due to non-cancer problems of the prostate but it's important your doctor checks them out.
The two main problems that may affect the prostate and give these symptoms are an enlarged prostate and infection of the prostate
Enlarged Prostate
An enlarged prostate (called Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH in medical jargon) causes many of the symptoms above by blocking the flow of urine but is not cancer.
This is why it is important for you to visit your doctor if you get any of the symptoms above so he or she can reach an accurate diagnosis.
The symptoms of BPH may be severe enough to need treatment with drugs or surgery but there are other nutritional options youi can try first.
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer can sometimes be found with screening tests. The main test is a blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA). A raised level does not mean you have cancer but do need further investigation and diagnosis
Diagnosis
Prostate cancer is diagnosed by biopsy of the prostate gland. This means a small needle is used to take a piece of the prostate and examined under the microscope for cancer cells.
Further tests may be done such as bone scans or computerised tomography (CT scan), which is basically x-rays, linked to a computer.
Treatment
There are 3 main options for treatment at present but more are being developed. They are
- Surgery – To cut away the entire prostate
- Radiation therapy - Applied to the prostate either by beads planted directly into the prostate (brachytherapy) or x-rays fired through the body to the prostate. Often hormonal therapy is added.
- Watchful Waiting – Often used in early, small cancers. Regular checks and examinations are carried out and treatment started if needed.
Many men have prostate cancer but survive and beat it. Advances are offering more and better treatments and there is much hope for the future.
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