Prostate Cancer Information - Signs, Stage, Symptoms, Cause, Cure and Prevention of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease wherein cancer affects a male reproductive gland. Prostate cancer affects about 100 of throusands of men each year across the world, and is the second most common cause of death from cancer after cancer of the lung.
Early Sign and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Symptoms of prostate cancer can be identical to those seen in BPH, and initial diagnostic tests are the same. Prostate cancer may be indicated if the prostate gland feels hard on rectal examination, or if the PSA levels are elevated.
Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Referral to a prostate specialist (urologist) for further tests is essential for accurate diagnosis. An ultrasound scan of the prostate gland, along with a biopsy to obtain a sample of tissue are the next steps.
A bone scan might be necessary if the cancer is thought to have spread outside the prostate gland. However, a diagnosis of prostate cancer does not always mean that the cancer will cause symptoms or be life threatening. Especially in elderly men, the best policy may sometimes be to monitor the disease rather than to treat it. If a tumor is small, the patient is likely to live for a number of years.
Prostate Cancer Treatment options
- Prostate Cancer Surgery - Treatment, especially in younger men when the disease tends to be more aggressive, involves surgery to remove the prostate gland if the cancer is confined to the gland.
- Prostate Cancer Drug and Chemotherapy - In many patients, if the disease is more widespread, tablets or injections to lower the testosterone level is the usual treatment.
- Prostate Cancer radiation
- Prostate Cancer Vaccine
- Hormonal Therapy -
The goal of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer is to block the effect of male hormones such as testosterone. That, in turn, can slow the growth of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells. Hormonal therapy is not a cure for prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Information Guide
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