Prostate Cancer Is Cureable When Detected Early
Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men. As with many conditions that they experience, men usually do not like talking about it. Statistically speaking though, one in six men should expect it. It tends to happen more when men reach their midlife stage and beyond.
This is a slow growing disease and perhaps the silver lining is that early detection can lead to total cure. The scary part about prostate cancer is that the signs are not immediately noticeable. You may have the disease for months before does become noticeable, and by then it may be too late. It is therefore important that men should educate themselves on this matter so that there is a better chance of preventing and fighting it.
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut that surrounds the urethra, lies below the bladder and controls the release of urine. It also produces a fluid that protects and constitutes the sperm cells. Prostate cancer develops quite slowly within the glandular cells. It has the potential to spread to areas surrounding the prostate and continues its attack by affecting the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and possibly other organs as well.
The first thing you should understand about prostate cancer, or any form of cancer for that matter, is that high risk category patients are those who have a family history of cancer. Many cases of prostate cancer are basically symptom-free. There may be some nagging signs like:
- difficulty in urination;
- burning sensation during urination;
- hip or back pain;
- pain during ejaculation.
Regular examination can spot the cancer. A biopsy will be undertaken after which the tissues samples will be tested for prostate-specific antigens in the blood. A more effective means of testing is a rectal exam where the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to check for abnormalities. While this type of exam is usually material for comedy sketches, there is really nothing humorous if the doctor detects anything that may be cause for alarm. But as uncomfortable as a rectal exam may sound, it is merely a temporary inconvenience as compared to having to deal with cancer over the long haul.
If cancer is detected, doctors will grade its stage from 1 to 5 depending on the amount of cancerous present. They will also determine the level of aggressiveness of the cancer. This evaluation will give them a basis to grade it based on is called a Gleason score. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer. To understand the Gleason score better, visit this website.
As mentioned previously, early detection can lead to a very high chance of cure. But if the cancer has already progressed, your doctor will determine what options are available:
- Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), removal of the prostate tissue that is blocking the urethra. This is a procedure that can lead to many other complications such as infection or bleeding. A small percentage of men however may need to undergo the procedure again after ten years;
- Cryotherapy, a minimally invasive procedure which uses very low temperatures to freeze and destroy cancer cells in and around the prostate gland;
- Radical prostatectomy, which is the complete removal of the prostate;
- Radiation treatment, the most lethal treatment and oftentimes is the cause of death instead of the cancer itself.
