Prostrate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is one of the leading cancers in India. Men aged between 35 to 60 years are more likely to get affected by it. Diagnosis and treatment at early stages can lead to better outcomes.
The prostate gland is a small, walnut-shaped gland near the urinary bladder in men which produces seminal fluid, nourishes and transports the sperm. Located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder where the urine is stored, the prostate also surrounds the urethra (the canal through which urine passes out of the body). Those older than 60 years are at a higher risk of this disease and would require treatment at the earliest.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms experienced are:
Frequent urination especially at night
Difficulty in urination
Weak or interrupted flow of urine
Painful or burning urination
Difficulty in having an erection
Painful ejaculation
Blood in urine or semen
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hip or upper thigh
Causes
The exact cause of prostate cancer is under investigation. However, increasing age and high testosterone are known risk factors.
Treatment
The prostate cancer treatment options depend on several factors, such as:
How fast the cancer is growing
The stage of cancer
The overall health
The pros and cons of the treatment.
Immediate treatment may not be necessary:
For men diagnosed with a very early stage of prostate cancer, treatment may not be necessary right away. Some men may never need treatment. Instead, doctors sometimes recommend active surveillance.
In active surveillance, regular follow-up blood tests, rectal exams and biopsies may be performed to monitor the progression of your cancer. If tests show that cancer is progressing, then the doctor recommends surgery or radiation.
Active surveillance carries a risk that the cancer may grow and spread between check-ups, making it less likely to be cured.
The treatment methods may vary case-by-case. Some of them are:
Radiation therapy, External beam radiation, Brachytherapy, Hormone therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy.
Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Brain cancer
Head & Neck cancer
Bone cancer
Blood cancer
Testicular cancer
Ovarian cancer
Prostate cancer
Stomach cancer
Bladder cancer
Thyroid cancer
Gallbladder cancer
Liver cancer
Skin Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
