Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that has received more attention in the last decade or so than all the previous years combined. While prostate cancer is not a new disease, prior to the 1980's it was not a disease that was commonly discussed, or even a disease that many people had common knowledge of.

As with most types of cancer, prostate cancer begins when various types of cells within the body begin to grow at an alarmingly abnormal rate. Clumps of additional cells form what is known as a tumor. The presence of a tumor alone does not necessarily signal that there is a cause to be concerned about cancer. In some cases tumors may simply be benign, which means that there is no danger or risk associated with them. In other situations, however; tumors are cancerous and there is a definite need for immediate treatment.

Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland, which is found in males. The prostate gland is one of the parts of the male anatomy which comprises the male reproductive system. Younger men rarely are afflicted with prostate cancer. Generally speaking, only males over the age of 40 have should have any concern for developing prostate cancer and in reality 75% of all males who do develop prostate cancer have already attained the age of at least 65.

While some cancers spread very rapidly throughout the human body, prostate cancer grows at a much slower rate. One of the most frightening dangers involving prostate cancer is the risk of cancer cells that originally began to grow in the body entering the bloodstream. If this occurs, it is likely that the prostate cancer will affect other areas of the body as well, such as the lymphatic system and possibly other major organs.

While doctors and scientists diligently continue to search for a single factor that may cause prostate cancer, to date they have only been able to pinpoint several risk factors that may lead to the development of prostate cancer. Without a doubt, age is the greatest risk factor involving the development of prostate cancer. Doctors and scientists have also noted that prostate cancer does tend to appear more commonly in African American men than men in any other ethnic group. It is also believed that genetics may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Men who have had a male relative, such as a father or brother, with the disease appear more likely to develop prostate cancer themselves. Scientists continue to research other factors that they believe may play a role in prostate cancer risk, such as diet, exercise, smoking and certain sexually transmitted diseases. At this point in the research, there is nothing concrete to point to the fact that any of these issues may play a role in prostate cancer risk.

Like most other types of cancer, prostate cancer stands a better chance of being successfully treated if it is caught while still in the early stages. Unfortunately, this is sometimes very difficult to accomplish due to the fact that prostate cancer typically does not cause in any symptoms when it first begins to develop. By and large, prostate cancer is a slow growing and developing disease. This means that a man may have begun to develop prostate cancer years, even decades, before he begins to show any symptoms. For this reason alone, prostate cancer is very dangerous.

Among the symptoms and signs that men with prostate cancer are likely to notice first are the need to urinate more frequently and difficulty in holding their urine. Men with prostate cancer may also notice that when they do go to the bathroom, urination is painful and causes a burning sensation. Erectile dysfunction and painful ejaculation are also common symptoms of prostate cancer. Finally, men with prostate cancer may notice traces of blood in both their urine and semen.

It is highly recommended that any male who experiences one or more of these symptoms seek immediate attention from a qualified physician. While many men who suspect they may have prostate cancer initially consult their family physician, they are usually referred to a urologist, who is trained in diagnosing and treating all matters relating to the urinary system. A battery of tests including blood tests as well as a rectal exam can help the physician determine whether the patient does or does not suffer from prostate cancer. A rectal exam alone is often not enough to definitely rule out prostate cancer. An ultrasound and a biopsy may also be needed to make the final determination regarding a prostate cancer diagnosis.

If a positive prostate cancer diagnosis is made the physician will then make a determination regarding how fast the cancer is growing and possibly spreading. This will help him or her in developing a treatment plan. A number of treatment options are available for patients suffering from prostate cancer including various clinical trials, medications and radiation therapy. Surgery may also be an option that is considered by the patient and his physician. Surgical options are generally given very careful consideration due to the long-term side effects. In some cases where portions or all of the patient's prostate gland is removed, the patient may always suffer from partial or complete sexual dysfunction.

After a patient completes their treatment regiment, regardless of whether that plan included radiation, surgery or a combination of options; the patient will need to return for monitoring and screenings for a period of time to insure the cancer has not returned.

Researchers continue working to diligently to isolate single factors that may lead to and cause the development of prostate cancer. Doctors are also working on promising treatment options that may allow the patient to recover from prostate cancer treatments and surgeries with complete sexual function still intact.

Some studies now recommend that men who are at least 55 years of age have a yearly prostate cancer screening so that should the disease develop, it can be caught in the early stages. This is critical, as the further the disease progresses the less likely is becomes for the disease to be successfully treated. In the final stages of prostate cancer, the disease is deadly. Approximately 200,000 men each year are diagnosed with prostate cancer.