Carcinoma Prostate

What is Carcinoma Prostate?

A cancer in the prostate gland leads to Carcinoma prostate. It affects only men and generally shows no early signs or symptoms. It starts with fine changes to the shape and size of the prostate gland cells. This is common to most men in their 50’s. Like every other cancer, it is important to know the exact stage of carcinoma prostate to determine effective therapies. This involves understanding the size of the cancer tumor, knowing the exact number of lymph nodes involved, and determining whether there are any metastases.

The exact cause for carcinoma prostate is unknown. A family history of the disease is one significant factor. Testosterone also contributes to the growth of carcinoma prostate. It is a very slow growing disease and regular checks and screening can help in early diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms

Initially, carcinoma prostate has no warning signs and symptoms. It is only when the cancer tumour grows and leads to swelling of the gland, or if the cancer spreads to other parts, the following signs and symptoms may be observed:

Frequent urination.
Difficulty in starting and maintaining the urine stream.
Weak or interrupted stream of urine.
Urine leakage while coughing or sneezing (stress incontinence).
The inability to stand up and urinate.
Discomfort, burning, or painful sensation while urinating or ejaculating.
Blood in semen or urine.

Causes

The common causes of carcinoma prostate are:

Age.
Genetics.
Men who had gonorrhea have higher chances of developing the disease.
Exposure to Agent Orange.
Being black.
Obesity.

Risks

The common risks of carcinoma prostate are:

Erectile dysfunction.
Spreading of cancer to the nearby organs (metastasizes).
Incontinence.

Prevention

Following are some methods that can help to prevent carcinoma prostate:

Following Mediterranean diet.
Regular exercise to maintain weight.
Healthy diet over supplements.
Sexual hygiene.
Increase intake of fruits and vegetables.

How is it diagnosed?

The earlier the diagnosis, the easier to completely treat carcinoma prostate. The first test is done by a general medical practitioner and involves a physical examination, understanding of medical ...

Digital rectal examination (DRE)
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
Transrectal MRI scan
Biopsy

How is it treated?

Carcinoma prostate is generally not life threatening. In fact, many men live with it for years without even knowing about it. The best treatment course depends upon individual patients. One or multiple treatments may sometimes be recommended for t..

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Vaccine therapy
Hormone therapy

When do I contact the doctor?

If you face any or multiple of the above mentioned symptoms, it is recommended to get a thorough checkup done from a specialist, to determine the exact cause. Ignoring the symptoms may lead to greater problems, and there is always the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Book an Appointment