1. Recognize the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the prostate. The prostate is a gland located around the urethra between the rectum and the penis. During sexual climax, the prostate pushes semen through the urethra and out of the penis. In the earliest stages, prostate cancer has no symptoms, but as it progresses, some men may have difficulty with urinating. Some men with prostate cancer feel a need to urinate frequently, particularly at night, have difficulty starting to urinate, or may have a weak urine stream. Other symptoms of prostate cancer are pain or burning while urinating, or blood in the urine. Some men may experience difficulty having an erection or painful ejaculation. Lastly, pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs are also symptoms of prostate cancer. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
2. Screening and Detection for Prostate Cancer
The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to catch the disease as early as possible. By catching it early, you can vastly improve your ability to treat and survive the most common type of cancer in men. There are two primary ways to screen for prostate cancer. A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test looks at a small amount of blood collected in your doctors office. A high PSA level could indicate problems other than cancer, so it is important to also have a DRE, or a digital rectal exam. In the DRE exam, a physician feels the prostate for abnormalities, specifically cancer, by inserting a finger into the rectum. If you are a man over 50 years of age, you should request both the PSA and DRE every year. If you are an African-American man or have a strong family history of prostate cancer, start your annual screening at age 45.
3. Diagnosing Prostate Cancer
If the PSA and DRE tests indicate you may have prostate cancer, you will need to have the prostate biopsied to find out if the problem is actually cancer. For the biopsy, small needles are inserted in the prostate to remove samples of tissue. The samples are then looked at under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. Tumor cells are given a grade, starting from one and going to five, representing how much they look like normal prostate cells. Higher stages represent more aggressive tumors. A stage is also assigned to prostate cancer, representing how advanced the cancer has become. Some tumors stay in the prostate, while others start in the prostate and grow to other areas. Having a diagnosis and a grade and stage assigned to the tumor will help you and your doctor develop the best treatment plan for your case.
4. Treating Prostate Cancer
Treatment starts by consulting with the three types of prostate cancer specialists: a urologist, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. By consulting with each physician, you can learn the most about your different treatment options. Treatment options for prostate cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound. You and your doctor should discuss your case along with your lifestyle to develop the best plan for your recovery.
5. Prevent Prostate Cancer
Age, family history and race are the biggest risk factors for prostate cancer. There is not much we can do about those three risk factors, but the good news is that diet and environment also impact how our bodies function and how cancer develops. A diet high in fruits and vegetable can reduce risk because of antioxidants. Foods rich in lycopene, sulforaphanes and polyphenols have the greatest anticancer effects. Supplements of vitamins D and E have also been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer. A diet rich in fish oils, but low in other animal fats, reduces risk, as well. Researchers continually look for new ways to prevent prostate cancer. Drugs to reduce the amount of male hormone may offer a prevention option in the future. Until these new therapies are available, focus on improving your daily diet.
