Prostate Cancer Treatment, Surgery, Symptoms & Signs

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate gland of the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and occur in the form of malignant tumour that usually begins in the outer part of the prostate. In most men, the cancer grows very slowly. In fact, many men with the disease will never know they are suffering from prostate cancer. Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself, and the majority of patients with this type of cancer can live for years without showing any signs and symptoms of cancer.

The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known to the doctors. But, it is believed that genes (family history) may have some interference. The eating habits also contribute to the probability of its occurrence.

Symptoms

Most of the patients suffering from prostate cancer do not experience any signs and symptoms. The symptoms begin to show only if the urinary tract is blocked by the cancerous tissues. The common symptoms may include:

Difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, frequent urge of urination.
The urine retention system may completely vanish.
The bladder is not completely empty at once.
Blood in the urine.
Painful urination and ejaculation (erectile dysfunction)

Causes

Although it is not clearly defined what causes it, some factors that may contribute are:

Age.
Family history.
Genetic factors.
Infection.
High level of male hormones.
Diet.
Sedentary lifestyle.

Risks

The main risk factors for this disease include:

Gene changes.
Geography.
Race/ethnicity.

Prevention

In order to prevent the occurrence of this disease, one should take care of the following:

Cutting down on smoking.
Taking a healthy diet.
Exercising regularly.
Taking the prescribed medicines.

How is it diagnosed?

At Medanta, our doctors conduct various standard tests to evaluate early prostate cancer:
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Blood tests
Ultrasound of kidneys, bladder, and prostate
Cystoscopy
Biopsy

How is it treated?

At Medanta, there are various treatment options available for patients suffering from prostate cancer. The options include:

Hormonal therapy
The main aim of this therapy is to decrease the production of testosterone or to cease its functions. These effects can easily be achieved with medication or by surgical methods.
Chemotherapy
This method use drugs to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The procedure of chemotherapy is decided by the stage and type of cancer.
Biological therapy
Some artificial substances are used in this method to boost, direct, or restore body’s immune system against cancer.
Surgical treatment
In this method, entire prostate gland is removed through surgery.
Radiation therapy
External beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy are two types of radiation therapies that are used to treat prostate cancer. Both these methods can be used when cancer has not spread to other parts, and is confined to the prostate only.
Cyberknife
The Cyberknife VSI Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumours. The treatment delivers beams of high-dose radiation to tumours with extreme accuracy.

When do I contact the doctor?

You should immediately consult a doctor, if you begin to experience symptoms such as trouble starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, and painful urination. All these symptoms will be treated just right by our medical experts at Medanta.

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