What is Prostate Cancer?

When cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate it is called prostate cancer. Usually aged men are affected with this disease. As they grow prostate may grow bigger which can in turn block urethra and bladder.

Symptoms of Prostate cancer

. Person affected with prostate cancer may find urination difficult
. May have difficulty in sexual function like Painful ejaculation.
. Blood in the urine or semen can be traced out
. May have Weak or interrupted flow of urine, Pain or burning during urination and frequent urination particularly at night.
. May have pesky pain in the back, hips or pelvis.

Tests used to diagnose prostate cancer

. DRE or Digital rectal exam: Examination of the rectum. A lubricated, gloved finger is inserted into the rectum by the doctor to feel the prostate through the rectal wall for lumps or abnormal areas.
. PSA or Prostate-specific antigen test: PSA test is a test to measure the level of PSA in the blood. Prostate makes a substance called PSA which is found in increased amount in the blood of men having prostate cancer.
. Transrectal ultrasound: Transrectal ultrasound is the process in which a thin lighted tube called endoscope is inserted into the rectum to test for prostate.
. Biopsy: Biopsy is process in which cells or tissues are removed to be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist. The pathologist will examine the biopsy sample to test for cancer cells and determine the Gleason score. This Gleason score may range between 2 and 10 and determines the possibility of tumor. If the gleason score is lower the number, it is less likely for tumor to spread.

Treatment of Prostate cancer

Patients with prostate cancer can be given various treatments depending upon the age, size of tumor etc of a particular patient. Some treatments can be standard currently used treatment, and some are being tested in clinical trials.

• Surgery: Surgery is being offered to patients who are in good health and are not more than seventy years old. These Surgeries can be of many types:-
. Pelvic lymphadenectomy : Pelvic lymphadenectomy is the surgical procedure used for the removal of the lymph nodes in the pelvis. Tissues are viewed under a microscope to trace for cancer cells. The doctor will not remove the prostate if the lymph nodes contain cancer, some other treatment would be given
. Radical prostatectomy: Radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure by which prostate surrounding tissue and nearby lymph nodes is removed.
. TURP or Transurethral resection of the prostate: TURP is a surgical procedure used for the removal of tissue from the prostate with the help of cystoscope inserted through the urethra. Before other cancer treatment is given this procedure is sometimes done to relieve symptoms caused by a tumor. Men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because of age or illness transurethral resection of the prostate may be done.

Radiation therapy: High-energy x-rays or other types of radiation used to kill cancer cells are termed as Radiation therapy . These radiation therapy can be of two types External radiation therapy in which machine are used outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer and Internal radiation therapy is the method which uses radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds , wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. Side affects such as Impotence and urinary problems may crop up in men treated with radiation therapy.

Few other types of treatment used in clinical trials are:-

Cryosurgery Treatment in which an instrument used to freeze and destroy prostate cancer cells is called Cryosurgery. Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells is called Chemotherapy, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy ). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen , the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy ). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Biologic therapy Treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer is termed as biologic therapy.

High-intensity focused ultrasound Treatment that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) to destroy cancer cells is called High-intensity focused ultrasound. An endorectal probe is used to make the sound waves to treat prostate cancer.