What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is the gland which is found in men around the urethra where it meets the bladder. Prostate cancer occurs when a growth of abnormal blood cells gather in the gland causing a tumour.

Typically, prostate cancer is found in older men because it tends to set in during middle age and develop slowly, often undetected until it is well advanced. With younger men, if the disease is not caught until it has spread to other parts of the body, there is no cure and death may follow within about five years after diagnosis.

What are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
There are no detectable symptoms of prostate cancer in its early stages. As the Cancer becomes more advanced, the symptoms are similar to those of an enlarged prostate, and are in fact due to the enlarging tumour.

These include an increased frequency in urination, especially during the night, combined with a feeling that the bladder is not empty. Another symptom is a burning or painful sensation when urinating, or difficulty or being unable to urinate. If cancer is present, then the above symptoms may be accompanied by:

a) Unexplained weight loss

b) A dull pain in the hip, pelvis, lower abdomen, or back

c) Lymph nodes which are enlarged

d) The legs may swell as a result of blocked lymph nodes in the groin

The main complications during or following prostate cancer and its treatment, are impotence and incontinence.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?
It is not known what causes prostate cancer. Many men have an enlarged prostate in later life though this does not necessarily lead to prostate cancer. There are a number of predispositions which are thought might make a man more susceptible to the disease which includes:

a) Having a father or brother with prostate cancer

b) Being over 60

c) Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)

d) A high fat diet or

e) Being Overweight (obese)

f) Overexposure to chemicals which are thought to cause Cancer

g) Being of African-Caribbean or African-American descent and living in western countries

How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
When any Cancer is suspected, it is important that the exact location and size of the tumour is established, so that appropriate treatment can be prescribed. There are number of tests that can be done to help with diagnosis which include: ultrasound, urinalysis, needle biopsy, bone scan, CT, or MRI scans.

As there are no easily detectable symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer, it is possible to screen men with a view to treating the disease early. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is sometimes used to screen men who may be of a certain age, or who have specific symptoms that may or may not be the result of prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Treatment
The decision on how to treat prostate cancer is a difficult one. The options include: no treatment, just watching and waiting, medication, radiation, or surgery. The decision, which is often jointly made by the medical practitioner and patient, may be influenced by:

a) Age of the sufferer

b) General health

c) The size, location and type of cancer

d) What treatment is available locally?

Prostate cancer is a disease that progresses slowly, and in older men particularly, treatment may not be thought necessary. Research into prostate cancer has long been overdue, and only recently has attention been drawn towards it.

What are the Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer?
The use of alternative therapies may be helpful in pain relief, ensuring good nutrition and to help deal with the associated stress of treatment. In particular, acupuncture and acupressure are both often effective in relieving pain and helping with relaxation.

Care at Home
As with many diseases, it is possible to help control symptoms and help treatment by ensuring a healthy balanced diet, regular moderate exercise and avoiding becoming over tired.

Dr A. Bose © Allcures.com February, 2012