What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the formation of malignant cells in the tissues of the prostate, a small gland in the male reproductive system between the rectum and the bladder. Prostate cancer is more typical in older men. The National Cancer Institute estimates that among 186,320 cases of prostate cancer in 2008, 28,660 died from the disease of complications associated with the disease.

About the Disease

Prostate cancer is not typically associated with rapid growth or spread and is typically treatable if discovered early enough. Prostate cancer is described both in terms of grade and stage. The grade of the cancer determines how closely the malignant cells resemble those of the surrounding prostate tissue. Cancer cells are then determined to be low, medium, or high grade malignancies. Higher grade tumors are typically associated with more rapid growth and spread. Stage is used to describe the extent to which the cancer is affecting the body. Early cases of prostate cancer are assigned stage I or stage II are localized malignancies, meaning it has not spread beyond the gland. Stage III and stage IV prostate cancers are those which are advanced and may have spread beyond the prostate to seminal vesicles or other organs.

Effects of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer may not have symptoms for many years. Often by the time symptoms appear, the disease is metastasized beyond the prostate. Symptoms of prostate cancer often include those in the urinary tract. These may include inability to urinate, difficulty with control of urine flow, frequent night urination, weak stream, or painful urination. However symptoms may also include those of a sexual nature including difficulty having an erection. Blood in the urine or semen may also be indicative of prostate cancer.

Who is at Risk of Prostate Cancer?

The most important risk factor for prostate cancer is age of the patient. In fact, nearly 70% of those diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65. African American men are at a substantially higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men of White or Hispanic backgrounds. Genetic factors also appear to play a role, especially in families with men diagnosed under the age of 60. Risk appears to risk of prostate cancer rises with the number of direct relatives who have the disease.

How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of prostate cancer is possible only through biopsy. In the biopsy, a urologist (physician versed in diseases of the urinary tract and sexual organs) removes tissue samples from the prostate with a needle. This can be done in the doctor’s office with localized anesthetic. A pathologist will then examine the cells under a microscope to check for the presence of malignant cells. If cancer is suspected men may have an MRI, CT scan, or Bone scan to determine if the cancer has spread.

How is Prostate Cancer Treated?

There are three generally accepted treatments for prostate cancer. These are radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and surveillance. Radical prostatectomy involves the surgical removal of the entire prostate and nearby tissue. Radical prostatectomy can be performed with “nerve-sparing” techniques which keep the erectile nerve endings intact, though this is not possible in all cases. Radiation therapy involves the delivery of localized radiation through an outpatient program of beam radiation. Surveillance is recommended in patients who are considered to be at high risk of prostate cancer. This may include scheduled biopsies, regular prostate exams, and PSA testing.

Source National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer National Institute of Health: Prostate Cancer

Last modified: December 09 2009.