Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer claims an estimated 34,000 lives annually, making it the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Prostate cancer is also the next-to-most common form of cancer in men (after skin cancer), with well over 100,000 new cases reported each year.

ANATOMY OF PROSTATE CANCER

Nestled near the bladder and urethra, the prostate gland is frequently the culprit when urinary problems arise. These difficulties are often due to nothing more than prostate enlargement or infection; but cancer is a possibility. Take any urinary irregularity as a signal to visit your doctor or urologist.

The incidence of prostate cancer rises with age. More than 80 percent of the cases are diagnosed after the age of 65. Prostate cancer is more prevalent in northwestern Europe and the United States. For some reason, African-Americans currently have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. Dietary fat may be a contributing cause of prostate cancer.

Warning signs appear only after prostate cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. Symptoms include urinary dribbling; inability to urinate; difficulty starting or stopping the urinary stream; frequent urination, especially at night; blood in the urine; pain or burning while urinating; and persistent pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs. Most of these signs could also be a warning of such benign conditions as infection or prostate enlargement.

As with all cancers, early detection of prostate cancer is essential. Men over 40 are urged to have rectal examinations annually. Through transrectal ultrasound, a new technique, it is now possible to detect cancers too small to show up on physical examination. A blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) can also detect the disease at an early stage.

Surgery or radiation is the primary treatment for localized prostate cancer. Hormonal therapy is used for metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is tried when other types of therapy cannot be used or have failed. It involves various combinations of anti-cancer agents.

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