header print

Prostate Cancer: Causes and Treatments of the Disease

Prostate Cancer: The following are some of the causes and treatments of the disease:

Prostate cancer occupies the second place among cancers in men after skin cancer, and it is detected in 13% of the male population. Although it is not as oppressive or lethal as other types of the disease, severe influence can also be conditioned by several factors.

 

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Cancer of the prostate affects this small, wrinkled gland in men located below the bladder and in front of the rectum and is situated at the size of a walnut gland. This reproductive part creates fluids in semen and assists in its expulsion through the urethra during ejaculation. The patients also reported that the prostate gland commonly enlarges as people age.
This gland sees the development of prostate cancer and if well progressed, it can encompass other areas of the body.

 

Causes of Prostate Cancer

After quite some investigations, it is still hard to single out what leads to prostate cancer. However, some factors are known to increase the risk:

  • Age: It is noteworthy that the risk of developing the disease in men rises with age, and men of fifty and older suffer the most.
  • Genetics: This is because a family history of cancer may raise the risk.
  • Obesity: While it is not a primary cause after all, obesity is related to poor diet and lack of exercise, which are the major risk factors.

 

Pregnant women need to go for regular antenatal check-ups. It enables doctors to administer treatment that will ensure the cancer does not progress and has a favorable impact on the patient’s life expectancy. 

While the reasons are rather unclear and still to be better examined, it is important to be vigilant regarding one's health and have regular check-ups. When the prostate is detected at an early stage, a doctor for prostate cancer will prescribe relevant treatment to block its spread all over the body and help the patient get free from cancer cells. 

Types of Prostate Cancer 

Adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type of prostate cancer that occurs in the gland cells and the tubes, according to specialists. Some other varieties are small cell carcinomas, transitional cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumor,s and sarcomas. 

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer 

 It is a crucial fact to understand that most forms of prostate cancer that are still confined in the early stages of development can go clinically asymptomatic. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

  • Musculoskeletal pain including low back pain, hip pain, and chest pain 
  • Blood in Semen and Urine

  • Painful ejaculation 

  • Erectile dysfunction 

  • More serious are the issues of urinary and fecal incontinence. 

  • Painful urination

  • Palpable feeling that consists of difficult, slow, or straining urine expulsion.

  • Frequent urination 

 Although such symptoms are not unique to cancer, they require medical check-ups for possible cancer evaluation. 

Treatment of Prostate Cancer 

Prostate cancer therapy is, therefore, based on the given health status of the patient, the extent of the cancer, and other illnesses. 

  1. Observation: Since prostate cancer progresses slowly the condition is usually checked from time to time to see if there is any improvement or deterioration. When used to detect cancer and it shows signs of progressing more intensive treatments can be recommended. 
  2. Surgery: The two approaches are the open prostatectomy which is the conventional surgery that involves the removal of the gland through an abdomen incision and the new technology robotic radical prostatectomy. 
  3.  Radiation Therapy: It can be done singularly or in conjunction with other therapies to attack cancer cells that have been lain near the prostate gland. 
  4.  Hormone Therapy: Because testosterone in the body contributes to the development of cancer, hormone therapy seeks to bring down quantities of testosterone. This can be done through administering drugs or by performing an operation that will see the testicles removed. 
  5.  Chemotherapy: Radiation is another form of therapy that employs the use of drugs to have a destructive impact primarily on the cancer cells and this therapy is effective for cancer that has progressed to other parts of the body besides the prostate gland. 
  6.  Immunotherapy: This enhances the body’s ability to recognize cancer cells and destroy them, which is mainly applied for progressed or relapse cancer. 
  7.  Targeted Therapy: This strategy focuses on proteins that regulate cancer cells’ growth, multiplication, and metastasis, which is the concept of precision medicine. 
  8.  Focal Therapy: An investigational therapy containing high-intensity focused ultrasound, cryotherapy, laser, and photochemical therapy. 

 Conclusion 

Altogether, prostate cancer though dangerous is not deadly since the quality of life is not compromised if it is diagnosed and treated early. The awareness of the symptoms and check-ups are important. Keep alert, be aware of the signals that communicate the problem, and give attention to the condition that requires frequent checkups.

Next Post
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy