you know what Cancer is right? What about cancer of the prostate is, do you know it? It the second biggest cancer killer of men in the world. Unlike some other forms of cancer that you may know, Prostate Cancer does not usually give symptoms in its early stage. But when the cancer spreads, it leads to throbbing feelings in the organ it has attacked, most likely, the bone. And this is a common cause of sudden, unexplained pain in the spine. In almost all the cases, prostate cancer is age related. Nearly eighty percent cases of prostate cancer occur after the age of sixty-five. But since the early stage does not come with symptoms, it is good you start screening every year from the  age of fifty. According to Rosenfeld.M.D., Afro-American males are 50 percent more likely to have prostate cancer than are the white Americans (so it is best the start getting tested before the age of fifty and thereafter).

 Image source: MedicineNet.com

Causes of prostate cancer:

The major causes of prostate cancer include:

1. Age- Age is considered as the primary risk factor. The older a man is, the higher is his risk. Prostate cancer is rare among men under the age of 45, but much more common after the age of 50.
2. Genetics- Statistics indicates that genetics is definitely a factor in prostate cancer risk. It is more common among certain racial groups – in the U.S., prostate cancer is significantly more common and also more deadly among Afro-Americans than White-Americans. A man has a much higher risk of developing cancer if his identical twin has it. A man whose brother or father had/had prostate cancer runs twice the risk of developing it, compared to other men.
3. A recent indicated that combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostate cancer.

1. Other studies have indicated that lack of vitamin D  may raise a person’s chances of developing prostate cancer.
2. Medication- Some studies say there might be a link between the daily use of anti-inflammatory medicines and prostate cancer risk.
3. Obesity- A study found a clear link between obesity  and raised prostate cancer risk, as well as a higher risk of metastasis and death among obese people who develop prostate cancer.
4. Men who have had gonorrhea  have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer.

Diagnoses of Prostate cancer:

Your doctor may try a PSA (protein specific antigen) test. In this case, the blood level of this protein made only by the prostate is measured. This should always be done alongside a digital rectum exam. PSA readings are increased in men with benign prostatic hypertrophy and infections of the prostate gland as well as in cancer patients. A high PSA should be considered to be cancer unless proven otherwise. A PSA range of between 1 and 4 (nanograms) is usually accepted by many doctors as normal. But if your PSA was usually between 1 and 2 and is now close to 4, the prostrate should further be evaluated.

The transrectal ultrasound test should be done to clear all doubts of the size of the prostate gland, or if the PSA is questionable. In this case, an instrument would be inserted into the rectum, directing sound waves to the prostate; their echo pattern is converted by a computer into a picture which is then studied to determine any irregularity.

Another alternative is to perform a needle biopsy to tell if cancer is present. The doctor will have to insert a needle into the gland to obtain some of it tissue, which is studied afterward for the presence of cancerous cells, using a microscope.

Recently, doctors have been using a refinement of the PSA. This usually involves that the free fraction (the part of the PSA protein that is unattached) is measured also. If the free PSA is less than 25 percent of the total, the likelihood of cancer is high.

Treatments:

Treatment recommendations really depend on individual cases. In general, if there is a good prognosis and the cancer is in its early stages, all options can be considered. The patient should discuss available options with his doctor. Some of the treatment options include:

• Radical prostatectomy – the prostate is surgically removed.
• Brachytherapy – radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate.
• Conformal radiotherapy – the radiation beams are shaped so that the region where they overlap is as close to the same shape as the organ or region that requires treatment, thus minimizing healthy tissue exposure to radiation.
• Intensity modulated radiotherapy – beams with variable intensity are used. An advanced form of conformal radiotherapy usually delivered by a computer-controlled linear accelerator.

Prevention Diet:

It is good to prevent this health menace with good diet. A study indicated that the Mediterranean diet may reduce a person’s chances of developing prostate cancer. Another study showed that soy, selenium and green tea, offer additional possibilities for disease prevention. Eating enough vegetables will also slow down the possibilities of prostate cancer.

Good health to you!

Sources:

MNT; prostate cancer; treatments and complications

Rosenfeld.M.D. Live Now Age Later.