Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is a common but slow growing cancer compared to other cancers. It is the most common form of cancer in men in the UK and the second most common cause of cancer related death in men. Prostate Cancer is treatable but it can be advanced before the man gets any symptoms.
The cause of Prostate Cancer is unknown but it may be linked to the production of the male hormone testosterone. It is more common in countries with a western lifestyle.
The Prostate Gland
The Prostate Gland is a small gland about the size of a walnut just below the bladder. Its role is to produce secretions that help nourish sperm.
Prostate Cancer develops slowly within the gland and only spreads later to other parts of the body. It is diagnosed at one of three stages:
- 1. Localised – where the cancer remains confined within the prostate
- 2. Locally advanced – where it has spread through the prostate into the surrounding tissue
- 3. Advanced – where it has spread to other parts of the body
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Men with early Prostate Cancer are unlikely to have any symptoms.
If symptoms occur they are likely to include:
- Experiencing difficulty or pain when passing urine
- Passing urine more frequently especially at night
- Dribbling
- Back pain
- A feeling of not completely emptying your bladder
- Blood in the urine
If you experience any of these symptoms you should contact your GP. The tests for detecting Prostate Cancer are PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) and a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). A rectal examination will involve a doctor inserting a gloved finger into your back passage to feel if your prostate gland is enlarged and if it is smooth or irregular. Your doctor has performed this procedure many times and it could save your life so please don’t be embarrassed.
Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Treatment will be planned exactly to suit you and will depend on the stage of the disease, your age, physical capacity and lifestyle etc.
Management of the disease may involve “watchful waiting” of men with localised, low grade disease who have no symptoms. Treatment begins when the cancer starts progressing and causing symptoms.
Treatment
- Surgery – to remove part or all of the prostate gland
- Radiotherapy – using radiation to eradicate cancer cells by external beam
- Brachytherapy – planting radioactive seeds in the prostate to destroy cancer cells
- Hormone therapy – using drugs to block the stimulatory effects of testosterone
- Cryotherapy – the application of extreme cold to destroy cancer cells.
Sometimes a combination of the above treatments may be used.