Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a ring shaped organ that wraps around the urethra. Only men have a prostate. It is a gland that secretes a fluid that partly makes up seminal fluid. Because it surrounds the urethra any changes in size will effect urination. See below for warning signs.

If prostate cancer is caught early enough it can be cured. The problem is most men wait too long to seek help and the cancer becomes advanced, beyond the ability to treat it. When caught early there is about a 90% cure rate. This disease affects about 1 in 6 men with age being a big factor.

Both of these methods should be performed on any man over 50 years of age, once a year:

• PSA (protein specific antigen) blood test: prostate cancer cells will produce more than normal levels of this protein. This can be detected by a blood test.
• Digital rectal exam: a physical examination of size, shape, or texture irregularities.

If either of these two tests suggest a problem with the prostate then a biopsy is usually performed to confirm or dismiss the diagnosis. A biopsy involves inserting a thin needle into the tissue and extracting a small sample. X-rays can be used to assess the stage of the disease which will help course a treatment plan.

Later warning signs:

• Frequent, but short/interrupted, urinations.
• Difficulty starting urination.
• Pain or burning during urination.
• Partial or total impotency.
• Blood in urine or semen.

The choice of treatment is a bit complex. There are several options available and the patient will need to make a choice in consultation with their oncologist.

Treatment will include one or a combination of the following:

• Active surveillance: this is where the condition is monitored but no intervention is taken.
• Prostatectomy: removal of the prostate.
• Chemotherapy: chemicals to destroy the cancer cells.
• Radiation the use of radiation to destroy the cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: because prostate cells need testosterone to grow, limiting this hormone will prevent further growth of the cancer.