Prostate cancer synonyms, cause and treatment
New Delhi : Prostate cancer is most common in men. The cancer cell grows slowly in the prostate gland, a a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Initially it may not cause harm to the person and may need minimal or no treatment. But, gradually, like any other types of cancer, it spreads thereby threatening the life of the sufferer.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
As mentioned above, the type of cancer shows no sign in its early stages. Later, when it reaches the advance stage, certain signs and symptoms are visible:
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Blood in semen
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Bone pain
- Erectile dysfunction
Cause of prostate cancer
Though medical science has improved a lot, these days, yet health experts could not find the actual cause of prostate cancer. When we had words with a city oncologist, he said that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells' DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can also break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Doctors also believe that the mentioned below factors may be related to the cause of prostate cancer
Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
Race: Black men carry a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. In black men, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced. However, the reason need strong evidences.
Family history: If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased.
Obesity: A man suffering from obesity, if diagnosed with prostate cancer, may be more likely to have advanced stage which might be difficult to treat.
Treatment of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer that's detected early, when it's still confined to the prostate gland, has a better chance of successful treatment.
Complications start when the cancer reaches metastasizes. From the prostate gland, it can Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs, such as your bladder, or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Prostate cancer that spreads to the bones can cause pain and broken bones. Once prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, it may still respond to treatment and may be controlled, but it's unlikely to be cured.
Treatment of prostate cancer depends on the type, how severe it is and the possibility of improvement. Treatment options include medications, catheters and surgery.
During the treatment, patient may suffer from erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
Besides, Cryotherapy, HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) and hormone therapy are also given to the patient. Drugs to stop the making of androgens are also prescribed.
How to prevent prostate cancer
Change in lifestyle can also contribute to the well-being of people who are at risk of prostate cancer. Just take a look at the following preventive measures to be taken:
- Choose healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables
- Opt for healthy foods over supplements
- Follow exercise routine almost regularly
- Maintain healthy weight by creating a weight loss diet
- Consult doctor immediately in case of any kind of irritation in the prostate gland
