Prostate Cancer

Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

In the early stages, prostate cancer often doesn’t present noticeable symptoms, so it’s usually diagnosed during a routine digital rectal exam (DRE). A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test may also be conducted, as elevated PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer or other prostate-related diseases. Based on these tests, further procedures such as ultrasound or biopsy may be necessary. Some forms of prostate cancer grow so slowly that no immediate treatment is required, while others may require urgent attention due to their aggressiveness.

Screening Recommendations:

• All men aged 45 and older should be screened annually.

African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin annual screenings at age 40.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, but several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing the disease:

• Age: Men over the age of 50 are at a higher risk, with 1 in 6 men developing prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• Family History: If close male relatives (father, brother, etc.) have had prostate cancer, a man’s risk is increased.
• Race: Black men are 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer than white or Hispanic men.
• Diet: A high-fat diet may increase the risk, while certain nutrients like vitamin D, lycopene, and selenium may lower the risk.

Treatment Options

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on various factors, including the cancer’s stage, aggressiveness, patient age, and overall health. The main treatment approaches include:

1. Active Surveillance: For low-risk cancers, regular monitoring with PSA tests, DREs, and biopsies may be sufficient, with treatment only needed if cancer progression is observed.
2. Cryosurgery: Involves controlled freezing of the prostate tissue to destroy cancer cells. This is an option for patients who are not good candidates for surgery or radiation.
3. Radical Prostatectomy: The complete surgical removal of the prostate and nearby lymph nodes. This can be done via traditional open surgery or a minimally invasive robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach.
4. Hormonal Ablation Therapy: Either surgery or medication is used to lower testosterone and other hormones that fuel cancer growth.
5. Radiation Therapy: Uses high doses of ionizing radiation to target and destroy cancer cells.
6. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): Sound waves are used to heat and destroy cancer cells, often guided by MRI.
7. Chemotherapy: Typically used for advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.