All you need to know about Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer ranks 4th in the list of most occurring cancers in men except skin cancer. According to WHO, it is the 4th most common cancer around the world with more than 375,304 confirmed deaths every year, but due to unawareness and false information among the common crowd the number of cases and deaths are increasing every year. Listed down is some basic information that can help anyone to know more about prostate cancer and protect themselves from potential risks causing prostate cancer.

What is prostate cancer?

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in the urinary system and helps to make a liquid that helps sperm flow perfectly with proper protection. Cancer begins in the prostate gland when eventually the cells in the gland start growing, forming a tumor that can be either malignant which can spread to other parts of the body, or begin that stays intact in the place of origin

What makes prostate cancer different from other cancers is its symptoms which may take years to show up and won’t spread to any other parts of the body in most cases, but even if it does it is very easy to cure it or freeze it making sure that the patient lives a normal life.

Symptoms

Symptoms are changes in the body that can be felt, while signs are changes that can be measured and together both of them can help to describe a medical condition. Several symptoms and signs are listed below.

• Frequent urination
• Sudden erectile dysfunction
• Unusual burning while peeing
• Discomfort or pain caused by prostate while sitting
• Blood drops in urine

Symptoms such as pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones, unexplained weight loss or fatigue are common symptoms that can also be related to other urinary infections unrelated to cancer. But as soon as one observes these symptoms they should contact the best prostate cancer hospital in ahmedabad for the guidance with further process.

Diagnosis

For most cancers, biopsy is the only way to detect it where one takes a small tissue from the infected area and tests it in the laboratory to diagnose it. But apart from that, there are several other diagnosing tests done for prostate cancer which are listed below.

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test – Generally PSA is a protein released by the prostate in blood flow and levels of this protein are often raised whenever it is infected by prostate cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or inflammation of the prostate. Looking at the features of it, doctors can decide whether a biopsy is needed or not.
• Digital rectal exam (DRE) – A type of test where the doctor finds an abnormal part of the Prostate using the finger, but moreover it is not that precise and can give different results with every test.
• Biomarker test – This test is dedicated to finding the presence of a biomarker substance found in the blood, urine, or body tissue of a person with cancer. Moreover, it is also known as a tumor marker and a person with a 4k score is suspected to have a higher chance of having cancer.

Stages of cancer

Different diagnostic tests are used to find stages of cancer, whether it has spread to different areas of the body or not. Moreover, there are two main stages of prostate cancer

• Clinical staging – This is based on results of digital rectal exam (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and Gleason score. Moreover, the clarity of the stage can be determined by X-rays, bone scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if required.

• Pathologic staging – It is based on results found during surgery or laboratory tests of cancer removed during surgery. Moreover, laboratory tests of removed parts can be used to have precise results of stages.

Types of Treatment

Generally, the treatment of cancer depends upon different factors for each individual such as age, gender, health history, quality of life, and any other medical condition. According to the results, a team of doctors or ontologists prepares a perfect roadmap for one’s treatment. Moreover listed down are several treatment techniques used to cure prostate cancer.

• Radical prostatectomy – This is a type of surgery where the entire prostate is removed along with vesicles and Lymph nodes in the pelvic area. Moreover, it has a potential risk of affecting sexual organs but nerve-sparing surgery increases the chance of proper working of sexual organs and systems.
• Robotic or laparoscopic prostatectomy – It is less invasive surgery and also ensures speedy recovery. In this type of surgery cameras and instruments are inserted through a narrow opening in the abdomen from where the doctor guides the robotic instrument to remove the prostate gland with less bleeding and harm.
• Transurethral resection of the prostate – It is often used to relieve symptoms of urinary blockage. Moreover, it’s a surgery where a small cutting device is inserted into the urethra and afterward into the prostate to remove tissues.

Prevention and lifestyle

The main reason behind the cause of any type of cancer is the lifestyle we choose knowingly or unknowingly, so there are several preventions and risks listed down which can help you to take care of it accurately.

• Eating executive sugar can lead to prostate cancer
• In some cases, inactive sexual life may also lead to causing cancer
• Having alcoholic substances regularly such as tobacco and cigarettes may also lead to cancer.

Moreover, it can be prevented by using techniques such as

• chemoprevention – Several drugs such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) consisting of dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar) are used to treat Benign prostatic hypertrophy which eventually lower risks of developing prostate cancer.

• Dietary changes – Having a proper meal with enough nutrients and fats and fewer carbs may result in curing it, though it is a long-term process it can be trusted with time.

Moreover, having prostate cancer is a fearful fact for any individual but following proper treatments and follow-up can lead to curing it as soon as possible. It is also necessary for one to show up to a doctor as soon as one sees abnormal changes in the body as it may result in diagnosing it earliest. Though prostate cancer is the most common in the world, chances of curing it perfectly are more without any harm.