Prostate Cancer Information

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes among men in the United States . Each year approximately 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Below we have provided answer to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding prostate cancer information.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is found within the prostate gland, in the reproductive system of males. The purpose of the prostate glad is to produce semen. In most normal circumstances the prostate gland is not very large, only about the size of a walnut. Prostate cancer develops when a group of cells begin to grow out of control and form what is known as a tumor. The tumor may or may not be malignant, meaning that it may be perfectly harmless or could be quite serious.

What causes prostate cancer?

Researchers are continuing to isolate a single factor that could reveal what leads to prostate cancer. At this time there is not one single known cause of prostate cancer. It does however, appear that some men may be more at risk for prostate cancer than other men.

Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer information indicates that African American men appear to develop prostate cancer more than many of other ethnic groups. Asian and American Indian men appear to be the least affected of all ethnic groups. Prostate cancer tends to develop much more frequently in older men than younger men. Men who are younger than 40 rarely develop prostate cancer. Men who are older than age 55 are considered to be more at risk for developing prostate cancer and men who have reached the age of 90 appear to be at significant risk for developing prostate cancer. The average age of detection for prostate cancer is age 70.

How is prostate cancer detected?

Persons who suspect they may have prostate cancer are generally 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. Persons who suspect that they make have prostate cancer should consult their primary healthcare physician, who can provide further in depth prostate cancer information and make a referral to a urologist, if necessary.

What are the stages of prostate cancer?

It is imperative for the treating physician to determine the level at which the cancer has progressed. This will help the treatment team determine the best plan for treating prostate cancer. In order to determine the staging of the disease, the physician may use multiple tests including a bone scan, CT scan and MRI as well as blood tests. There are four basic stages of prostate cancer. In the first stage of prostate cancer, the tumor is still small enough that it cannot be felt during a rectal exam. In this stage, the cancer has not progressed beyond the prostate. In the second stage, the cancer has not yet spread beyond the prostate but it has advanced. In stage three, the cancer begun to spread but is usually not yet present in the lymph nodes. In stage five, the cancer may have spread to numerous points in the body including the lymph nodes, bones, bladder and rectum. Sometimes a fifth stage is assigned and that is known as recurrent cancer.

How is prostate cancer treated?

In looking at treatment plans, it is important to gain as much prostate cancer information as possible. Many patients feel it is necessary to obtain a second opinion and while this can be beneficial, it should not delay treatment options for a long period of time. The best chances of surviving prostate cancer lie in early detection and treatment. There are a number of treatment options available for prostate cancer patients including medications, radiation therapy, various clinical trials and surgical options. Surgical options include removing all or a portion of the patient's prostate gland. The patient may suffer from partial or complete sexual dysfunction following surgical treatment. 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.

Is prostate cancer always fatal?

Prostate cancer can be fatal, but it does not always result in death. In cases where the cancer is detected early and an aggressive treatment plan is pursued, the patient stands a good chance of recovering. According to the Prostate Cancer Coalition, about 30,000 men die from prostate cancer each year, however; 75% of those deaths could have been prevented with early detection and “best practices” treatment.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In the early stages of prostate cancer, men may not notice any symptoms at all. Prostate cancer is a slow developing disease and a patient may have the cancer for years before it is ever detected or he notices symptoms. Some symptoms that may later be noticed, however; include the need to urinate more frequently and difficulty in holding urine, especially at night. Urination may be painful or slow and there may also be 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.

How can I prevent prostate cancer?

Researchers continue to search for factors that can isolate the cause of prostate cancer. At the current time, researchers believe that the development of prostate cancer is linked to dietary, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Making healthy eating choices such as eliminating as much fat from your diet as possible, getting plenty of exercise, making sure you are getting enough of the right vitamins and nutrients and supplementing your diet where necessary, stop or avoid smoking and maintaining a positive attitude may help you to avoid developing prostate cancer.

Where can I find more prostate cancer information?

For further prostate cancer information check with any of the prostate cancer information resources listed below:

Prostate Cancer Information Resources

Prostate Cancer Foundation
1250 Fourth Street
Santa Monica , CA 90401

Info@prostatecancerfoundation.org

1.800.757.CURE
Main 310.570.4700
Fax 310.570.4701

Prostate Cancer Coalition North Carolina

5301 Creedmoor Road
Suite 519
Raleigh , NC 27612
(919) 841-0102
info@pccnc.org

American Cancer Society

www.cancer.org

Information about Prostate

The prostate is a gland that sits in the between a male's hips in the pelvic region. It is precisely located between the anus and the penis and under the bladder. The prostate produces fluid that becomes semen when it is mixed with fluid that is produced in the seminal vesicles.

Four zones make up the prostate gland. Among the four is the peripheral zone, which is where most prostate cancers begin. The peripheral zone of the prostate gland can be felt by a finger inserted in a male's rectum which is why the rectal examination of the peripheral zone of the prostate gland is so important. Although uncomfortable, it is the most accurate means of detecting early stages of prostate gland cancers, so it is very important to include the rectal examination during a physical exam.

Prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the leading cancers in men. The probability of a man getting prostate cancer rises with age. One in 10,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer between birth and 39 years of age; one in 45 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer between the ages of 40-59 and one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer between the ages of 60-79 years of age.

However, the annual mortality rate for prostate cancer is dropping. Black Americans have the highest instances of prostate cancer deaths, followed by Caucasians and Hispanics. Japan has one of the lowest instances of prostate cancer in the world. This is fueling speculation that a diet rich in omega 3 oils that you get from eating a diet with fish at least three times per week is a possible prevention of prostate cancer.

Some symptoms of prostate cancer mimic a urinary tract infection, so it is important to follow-up on symptoms like urinary urgency, incomplete emptying of the bladder and dribbling after urination. These symptoms also mimic an enlarged prostate, which is scientifically called: benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Harvard Men's Healthwatch Newsletter indicates that there is herbal relief for enlarged prostate symptoms. Saw palmetto was very effective in treating an enlarged prostate. Almost half of the men tracked reported favorable results when using saw palmetto compared to men who used other herbal remedies. Other ways to improve or prevent an enlarged prostate include cutting back or eliminating caffeine and alcohol drinking because both increase urination. Also reducing the amount of after meal drinking of any fluid helped to reduce or eliminate enlarged prostate symptoms. Other suggestions for easing the symptoms of an enlarged prostate include not taking any prescription or over the counter medications that stimulate the bladder or prostate.

Research conducted at the University of Michigan Medical School indicates that a virus often seen in the urinary tract without consequence may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. The BK virus was found in the urinary tract with abnormal cells, which indicates that they might be related to each other. The BK virus has apparently been tracked in several cancers and it has also been studied in laboratory animals. Indeed, the BK virus has caused kidney cancer in laboratory rodents. Although this isn't a telltale sign that cancer is imminent, it is an interesting finding. However, researchers who participated in the research are quick to point out that the development of cancer takes several steps. Therefore, prostate cancer evolves; it doesn't just magically appear. It takes time to develop from one abnormal cell.

Cancer is actually a cell that has forgotten its mission, if you will. The information that a cell has on its existence becomes compromised over a period of time. Then the cell begins to split and reproduce at an alarming rate. This is a very simplistic explanation of cancer. In essence, cancer is a radical change in the growth information in a cell. It splits and multiplies and grows unchecked.

We have discussed the relatively low incidence of prostate cancer in Japanese men. Not only is their diet rich in fish, but they also eat soy products which are showing promise as a natural way to prevent prostate enlargement and cancer. There have been many studies conducted that indicate that a diet rich in soy protein stops the enlargement of the prostate gland. There is also another benefit of a high soy protein diet: it apparently halts men's pattern baldness. The studies that suggest the soy link to baldness are just a sidebar to the overall goal of finding an adequate prevention for prostate cancer.

Another possible preventative for prostate disease is the consumption of tea. Green tea has many benefits and is recognized for its health benefits. Both green and black tea are showing signs that they slow the growth or prostate cancer, which is another reason why prostate cancer is relatively minimal in Japan . Other food studies that are underway or being conducted include tomato rich diets, which have been proven to aid in heart health.

A study conducted in Australia and reported in the British Journal of Urology International, indicates that the more times that a man ejaculates between his 20th and 50th birthday, the less likely he will be to develop prostate cancer. The research indicates that ejaculation appears to prevent the build up of carcinogens in the prostate. The research was based on questionnaires that were completed by almost 1100 men younger than 70 years old who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and almost 1300 healthy males. The research further indicated that the amount of times a man ejaculated during a week was significant whereas the number of times a man ejaculated in a given 24 hour period was unimportant. The study was published in July of 2003.

There is no known prevention for prostate cancer, but research is leading to promising data specifically geared toward diet. If a male increases his intake of omega 3 oils and soy protein, as well as tea consumption, he will be taking proactive steps to reducing his chances of developing prostate cancer. More research is necessary to determine the causes of prostate cancer. There is no indication that prostate cancer is a result of sexually transmitted diseases. Research continues to insure prostate health and the continued decline of prostate disease mortality.