Prostate Cancer - An
Overview
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Basic Prostate Cancer Information
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The prostate is a gland located between the bladder and the
penis and in front of the rectum. It's often described as being
about the size of a walnut. The urethra passes through the
center of the prostate. Prostate cancer can damage the small,
sensitive nerves and blood vessels that surround the
prostate.
Prostate cancer usually grows slowly. Often, it
takes several years for prostate cancer to reach a stage in
which it's detectable. However, in a small percentage of cases,
prostate cancer grows more quickly and aggressively.
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly
diagnosed cancers in the world. In fact, in the United States
alone, it's the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer.
Prostate is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths
among U.S. men (after lung cancer).
A man who doesn't smoke is more likely to get
prostate cancer than all the following cancers combined: lung,
bronchus, colon, rectal, bladder, lymphoma, melanoma, oral and
kidney cancer.
Approximately 15 percent of American men
develop prostate cancer sometime during their life. More than
200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. About
30,000 die from their prostate cancer.
The 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer
diagnosed at all stages is 98%. The relative 10-year survival
rate is 84% and the 15-year survival rate is 56%. About 70,000
men require additional treatment each year due to a recurrence
of prostate cancer.
Ways to Cure Prostate Cancer
Naturally
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms
and is most commonly detected through prostate cancer screening
tests such as the PSA blood test and digital rectal exam.
The PSA Test Prostate specific antigens are
enzymes produced in the prostate. The enzyme is found in the
seminal fluid and the bloodstream. A high or "elevated" PSA
level in the bloodstream doesn't necessarily indicate prostate
cancer because PSA can also rise if there's an infection or
other prostate conditions present. Many men with an elevated
PSA do not have prostate cancer.
But a PSA level higher than 4.0 nanograms per
milliliter of serum has been established as the standard
"warning point." A PSA level above 4.0 may trigger a prostate
biopsy as a further test for prostate cancer.
Some doctors and researchers believe that men
with a PSA level greater than 2.5 should have biopsies to
increase the likelihood that prostate cancer might be detected
earlier, leading to a better outcome. This issue is somewhat
controversial as of this writing.
Most doctors believe the PSA test is a helpful
prostate cancer screen tool, but an imperfect one. A man can
have prostate cancer and still have a PSA level in the “normal”
range.
The Digital Rectal Exam The digital rectal exam
should be performed along with the PSA test. A physician
inserts a gloved finger into the patient's rectum to feel the
area of the prostate where most prostate cancers occur. The
doctor checks for hardness of the prostate or for irregular
shapes or bumps. These may indicate the presence of prostate
cancer. The digital rectal exam, or DRE, can be particularly
helpful because the PSA test may miss up to one quarter of
developing prostate cancers, and the DRE may catch some of
these.
Besides these two screening procedures, your
doctor may also want to use these other screening
possibilities
-
Ultrasound scan, using a small probe which is
inserted into the back passage. The scan reveals
the exact size of the prostate.
-
Biopsy involves taking a tiny sample of tissue from
the prostate using a small needle.
-
X-rays can show whether there is any cancer which
has spread to the bones near the prostate.
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors
A variety of causes and risk factors can lead
to prostate cancer. The major known risk factors for prostate
cancer are age, race and family history. The chance of having
prostate cancer increases rapidly after age 50. More than 70%
of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of
65.
Diet and other environmental factors may play a
role as well. A recent study shows that the risk of dying from
prostate cancer increases with body weight.
Related articles: Enlarged
Prostate, Enlarged
Prostate, Prostate Cancer
Symptoms, Prostate Cancer Surgery,
Prostate Cancer
Cure
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