Prostate Cancer Causes, Detection, Symptoms, and treatment

What is the prostate and what causes it?

Prostate cancer is the growth of cells uncontrollably in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small gland in the male pelvis which is part of the reproductive system. The prostate is located below the bladder in front of the rectum. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, that channel that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

The prostate produces fluids that help nourish and protect your sperms. During ejaculation, the prostate secretes fluid into the urethra. Fluid that is issued will be flowing along with the sperm as semen.

There are prostate cancers that are aggressive and can spread quickly. But in General, prostate cancer grows slowly and does not spread.

According to the WHO data, prostate cancer is the most common cancer cases second-order in men. Estimated at 1.1 million men worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer and there are 307 thousand cases of death in the year 2012. In Indonesia alone, prostate cancer ranks as the 5th most types of cancer, with the number of sufferers of 971 people in 2011. Men ages 70 to 79 years is the group most who suffer from this disease.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms in the early stages. Prostate cancer symptoms prostate occurs when too large or swell and start to affect the urethra. Some signs and symptoms that appear when this happens are:

• More frequent urination, especially during nighttime
• Feel pain or heat in the penis during urination or ejaculation
• Feel the bladder is always full
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Pressure while removing the urine decreases

Usually, signs or symptoms of prostate cancer occurs when cancer has already spread out of the prostate. But the symptoms above are not always caused by prostate cancer. The above condition could have been caused by a urinary tract infection.

Until now, the cause of the rise of prostate cancer is still unknown. But a genetic or hereditary factor and age a person can increase the risk of the appearance of prostate cancer.

A Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer

There are a lot of tests and examinations to determine the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The most common test for detecting prostate cancer is:

Physical examination or an examination of the rectal plug. This inspection is performed to check the size of the prostate gland.

Blood tests. A blood test is better known as the PSA test (prostate-specific antigen or prostatic specific antigen). But this test is not specific only to detect prostate cancer because the PSA levels can also rise due to other conditions such as urinary tract infections or inflammation of the prostate.

Biopsy. Prostate tissue samples will be taken for examination in the laboratory.

It is recommended that men consult a physician to perform a prostate cancer screening at age 40 years, 45 years, or 50 years. Screening is done with a blood test for prostate-specific antigen using. Examination of the rectal plug will also be undertaken as part of the screening.

Treatment Of Prostate Cancer

Makin early prostate cancer is diagnosed, the greater the opportunity for the patient recovered. But if the cancer is still in a very early stage and does not cause any symptoms, patients can choose to alert only. Prostate cancer treatment is by surgical removal of the prostate and radiotherapy.

However, if the cancer is detected when it has already spread to the bone, for example, then cancer cannot be cured. The treatment is done only as to extend age and also relieve the symptoms that appear.

Causes And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

In the early stages, prostate cancer generally does not cause any symptoms. But when the swelling of the prostate has been affecting the urethra or cancer began to spread, the following are some of the symptoms that usually appear:

• More frequent urination, especially during nighttime
• Feel pain or take long during urination
• There is blood in the urine or semen
• The pressure of the urine decreases
• Urine comes out when coughing or laughing
• Not being able to pee standing up
• Erectile dysfunction

Men's prostate will generally increase as you get older. The symptoms above need to look out for, even though it doesn't necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. The following are the symptoms of prostate cancer when it was entering a more severe stage:

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in bones especially lower back, thighs, and hips
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Feel pain or stiffness in the lower back, pelvis, upper thigh, or on the surrounding bone
• Weakness or paralysis of the lower body

Causes and risk factors for prostate cancer

The cause of prostate cancer is certain until now is still unknown. But at a basic level, prostate cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of normal prostate cells. But, prostate cancer affects mainly elderly men. About eight out of ten cases suffered by men aged over 65 years.

In addition to age, here are some factors that can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer:

• Family health history. If there are family men who suffer from prostate cancer or women who had breast cancer, your risk of developing cancer of the prostate will increase.
• Food. Consuming foods that contain high calcium too often can also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Obesity. Excess weight increases the risk of a man affected by prostate cancer.
• Race. Prostate cancer is riskier to befall a man who comes from a race of African-Americans and Caribbean.
• The location. More prostate cancer cases are found in parts of North America, Northwest Europe, Australia and the islands of the Caribbean.
• Gene changes. Some changes to inherited genes can increase the risk affected by prostate cancer.
• Some types of food. Men often consume red meat or dairy products are high in fat will have a risk of developing prostate cancer is slightly higher than the guy who's just a bit of consuming both types of food.
• Exposure to the chemical ingredients.
• Inflammation of the prostate. Some studies mention that prostate inflammation is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer.
• Smoking.
• Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia can probably increase the risk of cancer-type of place
• Vasectomy. Men who undergo vasectomy procedure have a higher risk of prostate cancer.

There are several tests and exams that must be traveled to diagnose prostate cancer, namely:

The inspection plug anal

In this procedure, the doctor will insert a finger that is already wrapped gloves and smeared the Lube into the rectum to examine the prostate gland which its position next to the rectum. If the doctor finds an abnormality in texture, shape, and size of Your prostate gland, you might need more advanced tests.

The PSA test (prostate-specific antigen or prostatic specific antigen)

The prostate gland produces a protein called PSA. Levels of PSA in the blood of all men quite a bit, but PSA levels will increase as you get a man.

The PSA blood test to measure levels of functioning PSA in the blood. The PSA test is not specific for detecting prostate cancer, due to other conditions such as inflammation of the prostate is also causing increasing PSA in the blood. In addition, there are some sufferers of prostate cancer who do not have elevated PSA levels. Only about 45% of prostate cancer sufferers have a high PSA level.

Test transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)

In this test, a small tool will be provided with lubricant and placed on the patient's anus. This little tool will emit sound waves at the prostate and recorded the echoes of the sound waves. The ECHO will be processed so that it becomes an image of the patient's prostate.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure of sampling prostate tissue to examined further if there are cancer cells. This is the most reliable steps in diagnosing prostate cancer.

In addition to the above procedures, doctors can also do the imaging test (penetrant bone, CT scans, and MRI) to evaluate the spread of cancer cells in other organs.

The patient may be suspected of having prostate cancer if inspection results indicating the presence of SMOKE (Atypical small acinar proliferation) in prostate cells. SMOKE is a condition in which the prostate is suspected can develop into cancer when examined with a microscope.

The patient can also be exposed to suspected prostate cancer if the results of the examination of prostate cells indicate PIA (Proliferative inflammatory's atrophy). PIA is a condition in which the prostate cells look smaller than normal size and there are signs of inflammation in the prostate area.

The Stages Of Prostate Cancer

To determine the appropriate responses against prostate cancer, the doctor will need to know at this stage what is cancer suffered. Thus, the appropriate treatment can be given. The following are the stages of prostate cancer:

Stadium I. At this stage, cancer is still very small and has not spread outside the prostate gland.

Stadium II. At this stage, the cancer is larger and has not spread outside the prostate gland.

Stage III. Cancer had already spread outside of the prostate gland, but still in the surrounding tissues, such as the urethra.

Stage IV. Cancer had already spread further afield, for example to the bladder, rectum, or bone.

Determine the stages of prostate cancer is very important because it deals with the right treatment options for dealing with cancer that suffered.

PSA levels to ensure the examination a diagnosis of prostate cancer is still a contentious and also controversy. Levels of PSA in the blood may increase due to various causes, be it cancer or causes that are not cancerous, such as inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland.

When the PSA level is someone higher, he will need to undergo a process of examination of the prostate gland biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. This means, there is a possibility that people undergo a biopsy that generally painful and uncomfortable, and the result turned out rather than of prostate cancer.

In addition, cancer detection through PSA levels also became a controversy. Because there are some cases of prostate cancer are still at a very early stage with the development minimal, making the sufferer does not need to undergo treatment. Prostate cancer treatment is considered riskier in such cases than if left, because the potential side effects of treatment are very large, for example losing control to urinate.

According to studies, there is indeed a decrease of 20 percent in deaths from prostate cancer that checks early. But, just one more person that can be saved from 48 people who accept the handling of prostate cancer. Therefore, advocacy to conduct the examination of prostate cancer is still in debate.

If you want to perform the examination early, it is recommended that high-risk men consult a physician to perform a prostate cancer screening with PSA tests and the examination of the rectal plug. This consultation should preferably be carried out on:

• 50 years of age for men who have a small risk of having prostate cancer.
• Age 45 years for men who were exposed to high risk of prostate cancer.
• The age of 40 years for men who suffered from prostate cancer is very risky.

TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

   For patients with prostate cancer, may be confusing in selecting the best treatment procedure that can be done. Each treatment has done the risk and also the advantages of each. Prostate cancer treatment depends on several factors:

• stage of cancer
• Size of cancer
• the age and life expectancy of the patient
• How broad a spread of cancer that has occurred
• health conditions of patients

For sufferers of prostate cancer at an early stage, they could choose to wait and keep an eye on the development of cancer. There are some cases of prostate cancer that requires no treatment at all, and this needs to be taken into consideration because there are side effects of the treatment are classified as significant.

In choosing to keep an eye on prostate cancer, then during the period of supervision, additional information can be collected to help determine the appropriate treatment.

The supervision of these requires you to undergo a prostate PSA test and biopsy procedures also regularly. This is done to ensure as early as possible whether there is any growth of cancer cells. A series of procedures were carried out to determine the appropriate treatment with the stages of cancer suffered, especially when prostate cancer has already spread out from the prostate gland.

Here are a few ways of handling prostate cancer are recommended:

Prostate Cancer Surgery

The following are some ways and also the surgical procedure that can be done to cope with prostate cancer.

TURP or trans-urethral resection

TURP is a surgical procedure in the cut part of the prostate gland. TURP is performed by way of a general anesthetic or spinal anesthetic, so you do not feel pain during the surgery takes place. The goal of surgery is to relieve or eliminate the symptoms of disturbed urination due to prostate cancer

The surgeon will insert an iron wire with a circular section at its end into the urethra towards the prostate. Electricity used to heat parts of the circular that serves for cutting of prostate cancer.

Radical prostatectomy

Radical Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue. Radical prostatectomy can cure prostate cancer if cancer has not spread out of the prostate gland. But there is a small possibility that not all cancer cells could be raised. There is the possibility of cancer cells will back post-operative.

Some of the potential complications of radical prostatectomy procedure are:

•  urine Incontinence, i.e. inability to control urination.
• erectile dysfunction. More commonly known as impotence. The inability to achieve and maintain an erection.
• can no longer ejaculation so it can't have a child through intercourse.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is sometimes done to deal with early-stage prostate cancer. However, most doctors will not choose this handling as the first step of treatment.

In this procedure, the doctor will use a gust of temperature is very cold to freeze and kill prostate cancer cells. Some side effects of this action are:

• most patients will experience blood mixed in the urine during the day until two days after the action is cryotherapy.
• Cryotherapy influential in the rectum and bladder, which makes the appearance of pain, pains, and often appears the urge to urinate.
• erectile dysfunction or impotence, because cryotherapy risk damaging the nerves around the prostate that control erections.
• Difficulty controlling urination.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses radiation energy to kill cancer cells in cases where cancer has not spread out of the prostate. Radiotherapy of post-operative could also be used to kill cancer cells that are left. In addition, radiotherapy is also performed to relieve symptoms or pain and slow the rate of progression of cancer in cases of cancer which had already advanced.

Patients need not undergo inpatient procedures for radiotherapy. The following are some of the side effects of radiotherapy on prostate cancer:

• pubic hair loss
• Feel fatigue
• feel uncomfortable around the anus and rectum
•  the inflammation of the bladder
•  inability to erections
• Incontinence of urine
• problems with bowel movements, such as dared hemorrhage

Chemotherapy

On the steps of this handling, the sufferer will anti-cancer drugs prescribed by the doctor. This action is especially appropriate if the condition of cancer has already spread to organs outside of the prostate gland. Some of the side effects of chemotherapy are:

• hair loss.
• Thrush.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• diarrhea.
• Increased the risk of infection, because of the reduced number of white blood cells.
• Easy bruising or bleeding.
• fatigue.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy usually combined with radiotherapy procedures. Hormone therapy before radiotherapy aims to improve treatment success. While hormone therapy given after radiotherapy is intended to reduce the possibility of the return of the cancer cells.

In addition to the above function, hormone therapy could also be used to slow the progression of prostate cancer end stages and relieving symptoms or pain that comes up.

Side effects of hormone therapy on prostate cancer are:

• Loss of sexual desire
• erectile dysfunction or impotence
• weight gain
• Swelling chest
• Hot flush or a condition in which the body suddenly felt the heat can cause excess sweating and shivering body.
• Sweating

Steroid tablets can be used if hormone therapy is no longer work because of cancer suppressive hormone resistant. Steroids can be used to tumors and inhibit tumor growth.

Cancer-Vaccination

The doctor can give you cancer vaccine for patients with prostate cancer. Cancer vaccine works by encouraging the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells.

Cancer vaccine for each patient can vary because the vaccine is made based on the patient's white blood cells. However, this vaccine is not consumed to prevent cancer developing, but extend the lifespan of sufferers of a few months.

Treatment of bone

If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, then most likely it will spread to the bone first. The spread to the bone will make the sufferer feel pain, bone cracks occur, or high calcium levels in the blood.

This action aims to prevent or slow down the spread of cancer to the bone. There are several steps that a regular doctor for treatment procedures are carried out on the bones, which are:

• Giving drugs such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, to inhibit the spread of cancer.
• Giving of corticosteroids or medications pain reliever to ease the pain in the bones.
• external radiation Therapy which serves to relieve bone pain.
• a radioactive Drug. This is a drug containing a radioactive element which functions to kill cancer cells.
• Treat Cancer Of Late Stage

When prostate cancer has already entered the final stage, then this condition can no longer be healed. The treatment is done only to slow development, extend, and relieving symptoms.

To cope with the final stages of prostate cancer, treatment can be done is radiotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy.