PROSTATE CANCER EXPLAINED BY ITOBORE FRED

The prostate Gland

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The prostate gland is found only in males. It is just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The tube that carries urine (the urethra) runs through the center of the prostate.

The prostate contains cells that make some of the fluid (semen) that protects and nourishes the sperm.

The size of the prostate changes with age. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men. The growth is fueled by male hormones (called androgens) such as testosterone.

A man above 40 can have problem with passing out of urine, this condition may not be as a result of cancer. An increase in the size of the
prostate can make a man experience pain while urinating. This condition is treated with drugs that shrink the prostate or relax the muscles in it, which can help urine flow.

Prostate cancer

Allow me start by defining what is cancer? Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the body. Cells are the functional unit of life. Every human person has cancerous cells in them. But these cells are dormant (meaning, they are in a silent state doing nothing in the body) Cancer starts when cells in the body are triggered and begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body.

There are several types of cells in the prostate, but nearly all prostate cancers start in the gland cells. This kind of cancer is known as adenocarcinoma.

Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly. Autopsy studies show that many older men (and even some younger men) who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that never caused them problems. In many cases neither they nor their doctors even knew they had it. prostate cancer.

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease.

·        Age: Prostate cancer risk goes up as men get older

·        Family history: Men with close family members (father or brother) who have had prostate cancer are more likely to get it themselves, especially if their relatives were young when they got it.

·        Diet: Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products seem to have a greater chance of getting prostate cancer.

·        Obesity: Some studies have found that obese (very overweight) men may be at greater risk for having more advanced prostate cancer

·        Smoking

·        Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)

·        Certain sexually transmitted infections

Prevention of Prostate Cancer

The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, however there are some things you can do that might lower your risk of prostate cancer. There are 3 major way it can be prevented:  Body weight, Physical activity, and Diet

·        Eating at least 2½ cups of a wide variety of vegetables and fruits each day.

·        Being physically active.

·        Staying at a healthy weight.

Some earlier studies had suggested that taking supplements of vitamin E might lower prostate cancer risk.

Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer

Men with early prostate cancer often have no symptoms. The cancer may be found with a screening test such as a PSA blood test or a digital rectal exam. But more advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:

·        Problems urinating or holding in urine

·        Trouble having or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction)

·        Blood in the urine

·        Pain in the spine, hips, ribs, or other bones

·        Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet

·        Loss of bladder or bowel control

Other conditions can also cause many of these same symptoms. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than cancer.

Diagnosis

·        PSA blood test

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a substance made by the prostate gland. It is found in small amounts in the blood. Most healthy men have PSA levels below 4 (ng/mL). Although the risk of prostate cancer goes up as the PSA level goes up, other things besides prostate cancer can affect PSA levels.

The PSA blood test can be used in different situations:

·        It can be used to screen for prostate cancer in men without symptoms.

·        It is one of the first tests done in men who have symptoms that might be caused by prostate cancer.

·        It can be useful if prostate cancer has already been found. It can help tell if the cancer probably is still just in the prostate gland. It’s also an important test for monitoring the cancer during and after treatment.

Other Diagnosis are Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) Prostate biopsy Grading the prostate cancer

How is prostate cancer treated?

You have a lot to think about when choosing the best way to treat or manage your cancer.

There may be more than one treatment to choose from.

Depending on each man’s case, the treatment options might include:

·          Expectant management (watchful waiting) or active surveillance

·          Surgery

·          Radiation treatment

·          Cryosurgery (cryotherapy)

·          Hormone therapy

·          Chemotherapy

·          Vaccine treatment

·          Treatment aimed at cancer spread to bone

The main types of doctors who treat prostate cancer include:

· Urologists: surgeons who treat diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system (including the prostate)

· Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with radiation

· Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy

Prepared by

Fredicare Health Care Service

Beside Afiesere Primary School, Ughelli

Delta State, Nigeria

07035693972