Prostate, a tiny walnut-sized gland, generates a seminal fluid that carries the sperm and provides it with the nourishment. Cancer in the prostate is one of the highly diagnosed cancers in men. Some of these cancers require minimal or no treatment while some are acute and ask for intense cancer trea

Prostate, a tiny walnut-sized gland, generates a seminal fluid that carries the sperm and provides it with the nourishment. Cancer in the prostate is one of the highly diagnosed cancers in men. Some of these cancers require minimal or no treatment while some are acute and ask for intense cancer treatment.

About the Treatment

1. What is the procedure?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. Mostly, the treatment procedure of the ailment involves surgery, as it is the safest option. However, in some cases, doctors may employ radiation therapy as well. In the end, The Treatment depends on the growth and nature of cancer.

• If the cancer has been caught in the first stage, then the doctor might recommend radiation therapy to cure it. Radical prostatectomy can be an option as well.

• If the patient is young and healthy, then the doctor will suggest him to undergo surgery. However, radiation, along with hormone therapy, might also be a proficient alternative in this aspect.

• The treatment procedures for stage-III cancer usually involve – a combination of hormone and radiation therapy, radical prostatectomy, and surgery.

• To treat stage IV cancer, the doctors might recommend – surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, treatments for bone metastases, medications for pain, etc.

2. What are the signs and symptoms?

The signs and symptoms of prostate cancer generally do not occur in the initial stages. However, if they do, then an individual may encounter the following issues:

• Pain or discomfort while urinating

• Visible blood in semen

• Erectile Dysfunction

• Decreased force in the urine stream

• A feeling of uneasiness in the pelvic section

• Pain in bones (later stages)

3. How is it diagnosed?

The authentic diagnosis of the health condition can only be done through a prostate biopsy. However, before doing so, the patient might have to undergo two different procedures.

• Physical Evaluation: Firstly, the physician may ask about the symptoms that the person has been encountering. They might also ask the patient to undergo a DRE (digital rectal exam) for a better assessment.

• PSA Blood Test: PSA or protein specific antigen is a protein type, which is created by both cells (normal and cancerous). So, if your body has an increased amount of PSA, then it might indicate the prevalence of prostate cancer.

4. What are the treatment options available?

There are various treatments available for prostate cancer. 

• Active surveillance

• Surgical procedure

• Cryotherapy

• Radiation therapy

• Immunotherapy

• Hormone therapy

• Chemotherapy

• Targeted therapy

5. What are the different stages involved?

There are four stages of prostate cancer - 

Stage I: This is the earliest stage of prostate cancer. The PSA levels during this period will be low. The tumour cannot be felt by touch. In addition, the cancer cells, too, would look like normal cells, meaning they cannot be differentiated. 

Stage II: During this stage, the tumour can only be found in the prostate. The PSA levels tend to be either medium or low. The tumor size will be small. But, the risk of it increasing or growing would be much higher. 

• Stage IIA: The tumour will not be big enough to be felt by touch. PSA level would be medium. Nonetheless, the cancerous cells will still look like normal cells. 

• Stage IIB: The tumour might be felt during the DRE procedure.The cancer cells can be differentiated moderately. 

• Stage IIC: The size of the tumour would be quite large and can be diagnosed during DRE.The PSA level would be medium to high. 

Stage III: During this stage, the size of the tumour will increase at an alarming speed. The PSA levels will be considerably high as well. In short, the Stage III can be considered as locally advanced prostate cancer. 

• Stage IIIA: The cancer has already spread out of the outer layer. The spread might be seen in the seminal vesicles as well. The PSA level of the body would be high.

• Stage IIIB: During this stage, the size of the tumor will increase even more, and it may invade through the prostate gland. During the stage IIIB, the traces of cancer can be found in recturm or bladder. The cells will look completely different from the normal cells. 

Stage IV: Cancer has spread out of the prostate and has affected the nearby lymph nodes. The traces of cancerous cells can be found in other parts of the body as well.