Prostate Cancer - The Symptoms and Causes of This Disease

Prostate cancer in the US is the second most common cancer among men after lung cancer. Due to developments in oncology, the rate of death due to cancer of the prostate has declined. This cancer develops when cells in the prostate multiple to form a tumor. Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation in which they grow and multiply without normal controls. Most cancers form from the secretor glandular cells called adenocarcinomas. Prostate cancer cells can be carried by the blood stream to spread in other organs through a process called metastasis.

Risk Factors and Causes

Just like other types of cancer, the specific cause of prostate cancer is still unknown but several risk factors have been identified. One of the main risk factors is family history. Men who have one first-degree relative who had the disease are two times more at risk. Those with two first-degree relatives with the disease are five times more at risk. Race is also a factor wherein African-American men are more at risk than white or Hispanic men. Men whose diet which is low in vitamins B6 and E, lycopene and selenium are also more likely to have prostate cancer. Some medical conditions such as prostatitis and sexually transmitted diseases can also trigger cancer cells to form in the prostate. In addition, men who are 40 years old and above are more at risk. The older a person grows, the more at risk he is to this cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Prostate cancer in its early stage does not usually manifest any signs and symptoms. The symptoms only appear when the tumor grows and causes some blockage in the urethra. The common symptoms are pain during urination, difficulty in starting and stopping the urinary stream and frequent urination. Other symptoms also include a sense of bladder fullness after urination and urinary retention. Symptoms of advanced cancer are hematuria or blood in the urine, impotence and painful ejaculation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of prostate cancer starts with a physical examination. Blood tests such as complete blood count (CBC), Hepatic transaminase test, BUN and creatinine test and alkaline phosphatase test are done. Another test is the Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) test which can indicate the presence of cancer cells in the prostate. Biopsy, x-ray, CT scan, MRI and ultrasound can also be used to diagnose this type of cancer.

Treatment of prostate cancer can be short-term or long-term. It is recommended for men to discuss the different treatment options first with their partner or family. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, age and the general medical condition of the patient. Surgery is a common treatment specifically radical prostatectomy which is the removal of the entire prostate gland. Radiation therapy such as external-beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy are also recommended. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are also options for those with prostate cancer.

Prevention

Prevention of prostate cancer is sometimes difficult because of its unknown cause. But men can do some preventive measures. First, they should be aware of the different risk factors. If they think they are at risk of prostate cancer, they should be very aware of the signs and symptoms. In addition, they should also undergo prostate exam once in a while. Eating foods rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E can also lower the risk for prostate cancer.

James has been writing articles about health issues for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website about cancer at the Cancer Information Center [http://www.cancerinformationcenter.org], with help relating to the Prostate Cancer [http://www.cancerinformationcenter.org/prostate-cancer.html], with straight talk for anyone affected by this disease.

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