Cancer is a condition that none of us would ever want to have. No matter how healthy you think you are, there is always that remote possibility that you would contract cancer. In the case of prostate cancer, men are obviously the ones that are affected. In this article, we would be discussing the basics of prostate cancer, it’s most common signs and symptoms and the diagnostic procedures employed to identify the condition.

Cancer of the prostate gland happens when cancer cells develop in the prostate. This is a gland found at the bottom of the urinary bladder. A normal sized prostate would be around the size of a walnut. As men grow older, it is normal for the prostate to also enlarge. However, abnormal enlargement of the prostate that is caused by imbalances in the hormones is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. This is different from prostate cancer in a way that BPH can be operated on and does not metastasize. Treatment for prostate cancer would involve the use of surgery, chemotherapeutic drugs and/or radiation.

In prostate cancer, cancer cells gather in the area and slowly grow into a cancerous tumor. The cancer cells might have been there for a while before any symptoms become evident. However, not all symptoms are similar and not all cancer cells act the same way. There are those that proliferate fast, while there are others that progress more slowly. The aggressiveness of cancer growth can be measured by the Gleason Score.

Though both cancer of the prostate gland and benign prostatic hyperplasia increase the size of the prostate, medical findings state that they are not related. Factors that might predispose a person to getting prostate cancer would be the following: age, gender, genetics, race, hormones and exposure to toxins.

It is best to know which prostate cancer symptoms to watch out for so that you would be able to get consultation at the soonest time possible. A person with suspected prostate cancer would be found to have a hard nodule in the prostate area during a routine digital rectal exam. In some cases, where the cancer is in its advanced stages, the prostate may become too enlarged that they would impede the flow of urine. For others, they would notice blood in their urine, also called hematuria. This bleeding is painless, a very common sign of cancer. These are the most common symptoms of cancer and this usually prompts patients to seek consultation.

Screening for cancer of the prostate gland would involve getting blood work done. The technologist would be looking for the cancer marker PSA or prostate specific antigen. A result that is higher than 4ng/ml is usually observed in people with prostate cancer.

A digital rectal exam was mentioned earlier. During this exam, an enlarged prostate would be felt by the examiner, and this would prompt for further evaluation.

A biopsy is needed to make an accurate conclusion of prostate cancer. A tissue sample would be sent to the laboratory and they would be testing the sample for cancer cells.

In this day and age of increased pollution and free radicals, cancer is something that most of us are most prone to. It is best to get regular testing in order to spot the disease as soon as possible.

The prostate is a chestnut shaped gland located in men under the bladder in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate grow out of control, creating tumors. It is the leading cause of cancer in American men. The risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age. Over 700,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. For early stages of prostate cancer, signs and symptoms are usually not evident. Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50, but those with a family history should get checked regularly.

In order to confirm cancer stages in the prostate, a biopsy must be performed. If the biopsy confirms that cancer exists, the next step is to know what stage the cancer is in. The prostate cancer stage will help determine the best course of treatment to take. Various tests are done to determine if the cancer has spread, including imaging and blood tests. The clinical stage uses results fro the digital rectal exam, trans-rectal ultrasound or needle biopsy.

A common staging system used for prostate cancer is the TNM system. This means T-Tumor, N-Nodes and M-Metastasize. First, the size and extent of the primary tumor is described/measured. Then checks are done to see of the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or metastasized elsewhere.

In the T stages (T1-T4) the cancer is rated from 0 to 4 depending on evidence of the cancer being localized in the prostate gland and surrounding areas. For T-0, there is no evidence of a primary tumor in the prostate. T-1 (a, b, or c) shows a tumor in the prostate, with a less than 5%, b greater than 5% and c -there is evidence of a tumor as identified by a needle biopsy. For T-2 stages, the tumor is confined within the prostate. In the T2a stag, the tumor affects one-half or less of one lobe, In the T2b stage, the tumor affects more than half of one lobe but not both lobes. For T2c, the tumor affects both lobes. When the tumors are confined to the prostate in stages T1-T2, the disease usually has cure rates of 90% or higher.

T3a stage indicates the tumor has extended beyond the prostate capsule. Stage T3b, the tumor has invaded the seminal vesicle. For stage T4, the tumor has invaded surrounding areas.

One of the best treatments for prostate cancer (T1 and T2 stages and some T3 cases) is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, since the cure rate is very high, but it is non-surgical and non-invasive, so side effects are minimal. Speak to your urologist about HIFU and other forms of treatment if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. HIFU is particularly suited to younger men (50-75) who don’t want the risk of impotency and incontinence generally associated with prostate cancer surgery. For more information, you can view the Hifu.ca website, as they are the oldest and most popular HIFU clinic in North America, and provide a wealth of information on options, stages and research.

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men in North America. 80% of men over 80 will get prostate cancer. The prostate is a chestnut size gland which produces proteins and fluids to carry sperm upon ejaculation. Usually, there are no obvious signs or symptoms of prostate cancer, at least not when it is in the early stages. The cure rate is very high when it is in the beginning stages, so early detection is crucial. Treatment in the T-1 and T-2 stages has a 90% or better cure rate, so it is important to know how to take control of your prostate health and what to look for.

All men over theage of 50 should get annual screening, unless there is a history of prostate cancer in the family, at which point they should start screening at 40. The only reliable way to way to determine if prostate cancer exists is by visiting your doctor for a screening. Screening can be a relatively simple procedure which usually begins with a digital rectal examination. Your doctor will check your prostate by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. The prostate in located below the bladder, in front of the rectum, so your doctor will be able to feel the prostate via the rectum to check for tumors. The other form of screening is a PSA or prostate-specific antigen test. The PSA test gives a reading of protein made by the prostate. A low PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL, would usually mean no further testing is required. If the PSA Levels are high, or rise over time, then your urologist will want to evaluate further.

If the tests lead your physician to suspect that prostate cancer may be indicated, a biopsy will likely be performed. This is the only sure way to diagnose prostate cancer. A local anesthetic is generally given, then an ultrasound probe is inserted to check for abnormalities. A biopsy needle is inserted to take 6 to 12 tissue samples, which are then viewed under a microscope. The tissue samples are compared to normal prostate samples, then given a Gleason score of 1 to 5, with 1 being close to normal and 5 being highly abnormal. Your doctor will determine the stage of the cancer and how far the cancer has spread. High PSA scores indicate a more aggressive cancer, with tumors more likely to grow and spread to other organs. The risk category and the need for treatment will be determined by the size and extent of the tumors, combined with the PSA levels and Gleason score.

Treatment options will vary depending on the risk category. Your age, health, race and family history will also be taken into consideration when determining the best course of action, so it is wise to research your options and discuss them with your urologist. For organ confined prostate cancer, one of the best prostate cancer treatment options is HIFU, which minimizes the possibility of risks and complications, including impotency and incontinence. HIFU is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, where ultrasound waves are used to destroy the cancer tumors. A specially trained physician uses a computer guided Ablatherm HIFU probe which targets the tumors with pinpoint accuracy, without damaging surrounding organs or tissues. Get an annual prostate exam for early detection and learn more about the HIFU prostate cancer treatment if you are diagnosed with the disease. A healthy lifestyle and regular check ups are essential for men over the age of 50, as prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in North America.