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Introduction
The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized
gland in men. It is located below the bladder
and surrounds the upper portion of the urethra.
The function of the prostate is to secrete a
fluid that makes up part of the semen. The
prostate gland may be a source of many health
problems in men, the most common being benign
prostatic hyperplasia and cancer. Prostate
cancer occurs when abnormal cells, fueled by
male hormones such as testosterone, grow
uncontrollably to form tumors.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths among men. Yet, when detected in
its early stages, prostate cancer can be
effectively treated and cured. |
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What Causes Prostate Cancer?
What causes prostate cancer is a subject of
intensive research. It is likely that prostate
cancer occurs due to many reasons. Predominately
a disease of elderly men, the diagnosis of
prostate cancer is rare before age 40 but
increases dramatically thereafter. In the United
States, it is estimated that one in 55 men
between the ages of 40 and 59 will develop
prostate cancer. This incidence climbs almost to
one in seven for men between ages 60 and 79.
There are also ethnic determinants of risk, with
blacks having the highest risk. Men with a
family history of disease may have a risk of
developing prostate cancer 2 to 11 times greater
than men without a family history of prostate
cancer. Prostate cancer is more common in men
with a high intake of fat in their diets.
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Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
In its
early stages, prostate cancer often causes no
symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may
include: problems with urination such as
frequent urination, inability, pain, burning,
weakened urine flow; blood in the urine or
semen; general pain in the lower back, hips or
upper thighs; loss of appetite and/or weight;
and persistent bone pain.
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Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Currently, digital rectal examination and
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) are used for
prostate cancer detection. The age at which time
screening for prostate cancer should begin is
not known with certainty. However, most experts
agree that healthy men over the age of 50 should
consider prostate cancer screening with a DRE
and PSA test. PSA test is usually performed in
addition to DRE and increases the likelihood of
prostate cancer detection. The test measures
level of a substance produced only by the
prostate, in the bloodstream. One possible cause
of a high PSA level is benign (non-cancerous)
enlargement of the prostate, otherwise known as
BPH. Prostate cancer is another possible cause
of an elevated PSA level. Patients with abnormal
DRE or PSA undergo prostatic biopsy.
Prostate biopsy is best performed under
transrectal ultrasound guidance using a
spring-loaded biopsy device coupled to the
transrectal probe, which is placed in the
rectum. Generally, 6 to 14 biopsies are
performed. The biopsy tissue taken is then
examined and graded by the pathologist. The
grade indicates the tumor's "aggression level" —
how quickly it is likely to grow and spread.
Gleason score system is most commonly assigned
method of grading. Tumor is designated scores
between 2 and 10. Scores of 2 to 4 designate low
aggressiveness, 5 to 7 moderately aggressive and
scores of 8 to 10 highly aggressive. |
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Staging Of Prostate Cancer
Once
prostate cancer has been diagnosed by a prostate
biopsy, the physician seeks to stage the
disease; that is, to determine the extent of the
cancer (i.e., the "T" stage) and whether it has
spread to the lymph nodes and/or the bones. The
T stage is determined mainly by the DRE and can
be divided into the .... |
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Next Page contains
following contents
Staging of Prostate Cancer
Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Types of Prostate cancer surgery
External radiotherapy or brachytherapy
Chemotherapy |
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Next Page |
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