Nurse's Easy Guide To Prostate Cancer
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Disease & Illness > Cancer
Apr 24, 2007
Nurse's Easy Guide To Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help. The most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. Prostate cancer is characterized by 'grade' and 'stage'; grade is given to indicate how quickly a cancer is growing -- the higher the grade, the more likely it is that the cancer will grow and spread rapidly and the size and extent of the tumor will determine its stage. Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread. There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not. When a digital rectal exam is performed it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you're going to begin. It's important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems. Make sure to read everything you can get your hands on and mull it all over.
For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments
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