Description

Prostate cancer is a growth of cells that begins in the prostate. The prostate is a small gland that helps to form the semen. It is located just below the bladder. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Prostate cancer is usually found early, and often grows slowly. Most of the people with prostate cancer are cured.

People diagnosed with early prostate cancer often have many treatment options to consider. It can be overwhelming to learn about all of the options and make a decision. The treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, or carefully prostate cancer, to see if it grows.

If the cancer grows beyond the prostate or if it stretches, there are still many treatment options. Prostate cancer that spreads can be more difficult to cure. But even when a cure is not possible, the treatments can slow the growth of cancer and help you live longer.

Symptoms

Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms at first. The majority of prostate cancers are detected at an early stage. This means that the cancer is located only in the prostate. An early stage of prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms.

When they occur in an early stage of prostate cancer signs and symptoms may include:

  • Blood in the urine, which may make the urine look pink, red or cola-colored.
  • Blood in the semen.
  • Need to urinate more often.
  • Problems to begin when it comes to urinating.
  • Waking up to urinate more often at night.

If prostate cancer spreads, other symptoms may occur. Prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body is called metastatic prostate cancer. It could also be called stage 4 prostate cancer or advanced prostate cancer.

The signs and symptoms of advanced prostate cancer may include:

  • Accidental loss of urine.
  • Back pain.
  • Pain in the bones.
  • The difficulty to get an erection, called erectile dysfunction.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Weakness in the arms or legs.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

Often it is not clear what causes prostate cancer. Health professionals have found some things that increase the risk of this cancer. These include advanced age, obesity and family history of prostate cancer. The exact cause of prostate cancer is often not known.

Prostate cancer starts when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA tells the cells to grow and multiply at a set rate. The DNA also tells the cells to die at a set time.

In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes tell cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of prostate cancer include:

  • Advanced age. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. It is more common after 50 years of age.
  • Race and ethnicity. In the united States, Blacks have a higher risk of prostate cancer than people of other races and ethnicities. Health professionals are not exactly sure why. In Black people, the prostate cancer is also more likely to grow quickly or to be advanced when detected.
  • Family history of prostate cancer. If a blood relative, such as a parent or a sibling has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the risk may be higher. The risk may also be increased if other close relatives have had prostate cancer. This includes the grandparents and the parents, brothers and sisters.
  • The history of the family of the changes in the DNA. Some changes in the DNA that increase the risk of cancer are passed from parents to children. The changes in the DNA called BRCA1 and BRCA2 can cause an increased risk of prostate cancer. These changes in the DNA are known to increase the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
  • Obesity. People who are obese may have an increased risk of prostate cancer compared to people considered to have a healthy weight. The studies on this topic have had mixed results. In people with obesity, prostate cancer is more likely to grow quickly and are more likely to return after treatment.
  • The smoking of tobacco. Some studies show a link between smoking and cancer of the prostate. But not all studies are in agreement. People with prostate cancer who smoke may have an increased risk of the cancer coming back. People who smoke also have a higher risk of the cancer spreading beyond the prostate.

Complications

Complications of prostate cancer and its treatments, which include:

  • Cancer that spreads. Prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as bones or other organs. When prostate cancer spreads, it is called metastatic prostate cancer.
  • Incontinence. Prostate cancer and its treatment can cause leakage of urine, also called urinary incontinence.
  • Erectile dysfunction. The difficulty in achieving an erection is called erectile dysfunction. It can be caused by prostate cancer or its treatment.

Prevention

There is No sure way to prevent prostate cancer. You can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

  • Choose a healthy diet.Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit the amount of animal fat you eat. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can do good for your health. Foods that have been linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer include tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and soy. There are No studies that have shown that these foods can prevent cancer. If you already enjoy eating these foods, there may be some additional benefits, including in your diet.
  • Exercise most days of the week. It is not clear whether the exercise can prevent prostate cancer. It can help you maintain a healthy weight. The exercise can also improve your overall health and your mood. Try to exercise most days of the week. If you are new to exercise, talk with a health care professional. Start slow and work your way up to more exercise time each day.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. If your weight is healthy, work to maintain it. Choose a healthy diet and exercise most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, adding more exercise and eat less calories. Ask your health care professional to help the creation of a plan for healthy weight loss.
  • Do not smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke, talk with a health professional about what might help you to quit smoking. Drugs, nicotine replacement products and the advice can help.
  • Medications to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.If you have a high risk of prostate cancer, you and your health care professional may consider medications to reduce the risk. These medications include finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart). They are most often used to treat enlargement of the prostate gland. Ask your health care professional to talk about the benefits and risks of these medications. When the prostate cancer occurs in people who take these medicines, it tends to grow faster. Your health professional may help to explain their risk and if these medications are right for you.

Choose a healthy diet. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit the amount of animal fat you eat. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can do good for your health.

Foods that have been linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer include tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and soy. There are No studies that have shown that these foods can prevent cancer. If you already enjoy eating these foods, there may be some additional benefits, including in your diet.

Medications to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. If you have a high risk of prostate cancer, you and your health care professional may consider medications to reduce the risk. These medications include finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart). They are most often used to treat enlargement of the prostate gland.

Ask your health care professional to talk about the benefits and risks of these medications. When the prostate cancer occurs in people who take these medicines, it tends to grow faster. Your health professional may help to explain their risk and if these medications are right for you.

Diagnosis

Prostate cancer Diagnosis often begins with a physical exam and a blood test. A health professional can do these tests as part of screening for prostate cancer. Or you could have these tests if you have symptoms of prostate cancer. If these first tests to detect relative, imaging tests can make the images of the prostate to look for signs of cancer. To be sure that if you have prostate cancer or not, a sample of the cells of the prostate can be removed for the test.

Detection of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer screening tests can detect prostate cancer in people who do not have any symptoms of the disease. The tests usually include a prostate specific antigen blood test and a digital rectal examination.

Most experts recommend talking with your healthcare provider about the detection of prostate cancer is around 50 years of age. Together you can decide whether screening is right for you. You might consider the possibility of starting the discussions before, if you're a Black person, have a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors.

Digital rectal exam

A digital rectal exam allows a health professional to examine the prostate. It is sometimes performed as part of the detection of prostate cancer. It might be recommended if your symptoms lead to your healthcare provider believes you may have a condition of the prostate.

During a digital rectal exam, a medical professional inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum. The prostate is a right straight. The health care professional feels the prostate for everything concerning the texture, the shape or size of the gland.

Prostate-specific antigen test

A prostate specific antigen test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen in the blood. Prostate-specific antigen, also called PSA, is a substance that the cells of the prostate do. Some PSA circulates in the blood. A PSA test detects the level of PSA in the blood sample.

Having a high level of PSA in the blood may be a sign of prostate cancer. But many other things can also cause a high PSA level, including infection of the prostate gland and enlargement of the prostate. If a PSA test detects a rise in the level of PSA in the blood, the test is usually repeated. Your health care professional may recommend that you do the test again in a couple of weeks to see if the level is low. If the level stays high, you might need an imaging test or a biopsy procedure to look for signs of cancer.

A PSA test is often used for the detection of prostate cancer. It can also be used if you have symptoms of prostate cancer. The results can give to your health professional you clues about your diagnosis.

Ultrasound of the prostate

Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create images of the body. An ultrasound of the prostate makes the images of the prostate. A healthcare provider may recommend this test if a digital rectal examination detects something about.

To obtain ultrasound images of the prostate, a healthcare provider puts a thin tube into the rectum. The probe uses sound waves to create an image of the prostate gland. When an ultrasound is done in this way, what is called a transrectal ultrasound.

Prostate MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging, uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. A prostate MRI makes images of the prostate. It is often used to find about the areas in the prostate that could be cancer.

Prostate magnetic resonance images can help your health care team to decide if you should have a biopsy procedure to remove tissue from the prostate to the test. Prostate magnetic resonance imaging can also help with the planning of the biopsy. If the magnetic resonance imaging detects about the areas in the prostate, biopsy can focus on those areas.

During prostate MRI, you lie on a table that goes into an mri machine. Most mri machines are large, tube-shaped magnets. The magnetic field in the interior of the machine works with radio waves, and the hydrogen atoms in your body to create cross-sectional images.

Health professionals use different types of tests of magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer, including:

  • Contrast-enhanced MRI. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using a contrast medium to make the images more clear. A health care professional to put the dye into a vein in your arm before the mri.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the coil and endorectal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the coil and endorectal use a device that is inserted into the rectum to obtain better images of the prostate. Before this type of mri scan, a health care professional inserts a thin wire in his rectum. This fine wire, called a coil endorectal, sends signals to the mri machine.
  • Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. A multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, also called mpMRI, says the team of health care more about the prostate tissue. This type of magnetic resonance imaging can help to show the difference between the healthy tissue of the prostate and cancer of prostate.

Prostate biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. A prostate biopsy involves removing tissue from the prostate. It is the only way to know for sure whether there is cancer in the prostate.

A prostate biopsy involves removing tissue from the prostate using a needle. The needle can go through the skin or through the rectum to reach the prostate. Your healthcare team choose the type of biopsy of the prostate that is best for you.

Types of prostate biopsy procedures include:

  • Transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy.Transrectal prostate biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from the prostate. It involves placing a needle through the wall of the rectum and into the prostate. This is the most common type of biopsy of the prostate. During this procedure, a healthcare provider inserts a thin tube into the rectum. The probe allows ultrasound images of the rectum. The probe also has a needle. A professional of the health of the uses of ultrasound imaging to guide the needle. The needle passes through the rectum and into the prostate to remove tissue samples. Samples are taken from different parts of the prostate.
  • Perineal biopsy of the prostate.The perineal prostate biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from the prostate. It involves placing a needle through the perineum and into the prostate. The perineum is the area of skin between the scrotum and the anus. This type of biopsy of the prostate is less common. During this procedure, a health care professional uses an imaging test to help guide the needle. Often this test image is an ultrasound test. The health care provider uses a needle to remove tissue from different parts of the prostate.

Transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy. Transrectal prostate biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from the prostate. It involves placing a needle through the wall of the rectum and into the prostate. This is the most common type of biopsy of the prostate.

During this procedure, a healthcare provider inserts a thin tube into the rectum. The probe allows ultrasound images of the rectum. The probe also has a needle. A professional of the health of the uses of ultrasound imaging to guide the needle. The needle passes through the rectum and into the prostate to remove tissue samples. Samples are taken from different parts of the prostate.

Perineal biopsy of the prostate. The perineal prostate biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from the prostate. It involves placing a needle through the perineum and into the prostate. The perineum is the area of skin between the scrotum and the anus. This type of biopsy of the prostate is less common.

During this procedure, a health care professional uses an imaging test to help guide the needle. Often this test image is an ultrasound test. The health care provider uses a needle to remove tissue from different parts of the prostate.

Samples of prostate tissue to go to a lab for analysis. In the laboratory, the tests can show if the samples contain cancer.

The prostate biopsy carries a risk of bleeding. Other side effects include blood in the urine and blood in the semen. Sometimes a biopsy of the prostate causes difficulty urinating, or an infection. The side effects depend on the procedure that you have. Ask your healthcare team what you can expect as you recover.

The Gleason score and grade group

The Gleason score and grade group are numbers that tell your health care team if your prostate cancer grows slowly or quickly. How quickly a cancer is also called cancer of the grade.

To decide on the degree of the doctors in the lab, called pathologists, look at the prostate cancer cells from a biopsy of the prostate. If the cancer cells look like healthy cells, then the cancer cells are of low grade. Low-grade cancer that grows slowly. If the cancer cells look very different from healthy cells, then the cancer cells are high-grade. The high-grade cancer grows quickly.

Prostate cancer grades in the range of 1 to 5. Grade 1 is very low grade, and grade 5 is very high grade. To obtain the Gleason score, pathologists look at all the biopsy specimens of the prostate to find the degree of each one. They figure the most common grade found in the samples, and the second most common grade. Add these two numbers to get the Gleason score.

Gleason score can range from 2 to 10. A score of 5 or lower, it is not considered cancer. Gleason score of 6 to 10 is considered the cancer. A Gleason score of 6 means that the cancer is growing slowly. A Gleason score of 10 means that the cancer is growing quickly.

The pathologists also the report of the grade prostate cancer as a group. The grade group is another way of saying how quickly the cancer cells are growing. The degree of groups for prostate cancer are:

  • Grade group 1. This means that the Gleason score of 6 or less.
  • Grade group 2. This means that the Gleason score is 7. The most common grade in the biopsy of the prostate samples is 3. The second, most common grade is 4.
  • Grade group 3. This means that the Gleason score is 7. The most common grade in the biopsy of the prostate samples is 4. The second, most common grade is 3.
  • Grade group 4. This means that the Gleason score is 8.
  • Grade group 5. This means that the Gleason score is 9 or 10.

Your health care team uses your grade group to decide on their stage of the cancer. The grade group can also help your team take care of your treatment plan.

The prostate cancer biomarker tests

Biomarkers are things that can be detected in the body. The results of biomarker tests to tell the health professionals about what is going on inside the body. Biomarkers of cancer screening for biomarkers in the cancer cells. The results help health professionals learn more about what is going on in the inside of the cancer cells.

Health professionals that the use of prostate cancer biomarker tests for:

  • Deciding whether to do a biopsy of the prostate. Some prostate cancer biomarker tests using blood and urine samples to detect the signs made by prostate cancer cells. The tests can tell your health care team if a biopsy of the prostate is likely or not likely to find in prostate cancer.
  • Deciding on a treatment for early prostate cancer. Some prostate cancer biomarker tests include the analysis of cancer cells to see if the cancer has a high risk or low risk of spread beyond the prostate. If the results of other tests have not been clear, this kind of test can help your care team understand your risk. The results may help to decide between starting treatment right away or watching the cancer closely to see if it grows.
  • Deciding on a treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Other tests of biomarkers of prostate cancer helps when the cancer is advanced. For prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the results of these tests can indicate your health care team if certain treatments are likely to work in the cancer cells. For this type of test, your health care team can try some of the cells that have spread. The cells can be removed with a biopsy procedure or collected from a sample of blood.

Not everyone needs a prostate cancer biomarker test. These tests are new, and the health professionals still need to decide what is the best use of them.

Imaging tests to look for prostate cancer that has spread

Imaging tests can look for signs that the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. These tests can detect cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Most of the people with prostate cancer only have cancer in the prostate. You can be that you don't need these other imaging tests to look for signs of cancer spread. Ask your health care team if you need these imaging tests.

When prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate, it may be called metastatic prostate cancer, stage 4 prostate cancer or advanced prostate cancer. Imaging tests are used to detect this type of cancer of the prostate are:

  • A bone scan. A bone scan is used nuclear imaging to take pictures. The Nuclear imaging involves the use of small amounts of radioactive substances, called radioactive tracers. A special camera can detect the radioactivity is also used in conjunction with a computer. The tracer is absorbed more by the cells and tissues that are changing. Cancer cells often are growing and changing rapidly. Bone scan imaging can detect the places where the bones absorb the marker. These can be signs of prostate cancer in the bones.
  • A computed tomography scan. A computed tomography scan, also called a CT scan, is a type of image that uses the techniques of X-rays to create detailed pictures of the body. It then uses a computer to create pictures of cross-sections, also called slices, of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. A ct scan can detect prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or other places in the body.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging, uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. A magnetic resonance imaging can detect prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or other places in the body.
  • A positron emission tomography scan. A positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET scan, is a nuclear imaging test. It uses a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. The tracer contains a substance that helps it adhere to fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. The PET images show the places where the marker accumulates. PET can detect prostate cancer that has spread to other places in the body.
  • A prostate-specific membrane antigen PET. A prostate-specific membrane antigen PET is also called a PSMA PET scan. Like any other PET, this test uses a radioactive tracer. The tracer contains a substance that helps the marker adhere to prostate cancer cells. The substance binds to a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. A PSMA-PET can detect prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or other places in the body.

The stages of prostate cancer

Your health care team uses the results of the tests and procedures to give your cancer a stage. The stage of a cancer tells your health care team about the size of the cancer and how quickly it is growing.

To decide the prostate cancer stage, your health care team uses the following factors:

  • How much of the prostate contains cancer.
  • If the cancer has grown beyond the prostate, such as the rectum, bladder, or other nearby areas.
  • If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
  • If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as bones.
  • The level of PSA in the blood.
  • The grade group.

Prostate cancer stages in the range of 1 to 4. A lower number means the cancer is small and only in the prostate. A smaller number of stage usually means that the cancer is very likely to be cured. If the cancer grows or expands, the stage goes up. A greater number of stages that mean a cure is less likely. Its prognosis depends on many factors, so talk about this with your health care team.

The stages of prostate cancer are:

  • Stage 1 prostate cancer. A stage 1 prostate cancer means that the cancer is small and only in the prostate. The cancer only affects one side of the prostate gland. The PSA level is low and the grade group is 1.
  • Stage 2A cancer of prostate. A stage 2A cancer of the prostate may be a small cancer that affects only one side of the prostate, but the PSA level is intermediate. This stage can also mean that the cancer affects both sides of the prostate, but the PSA level is low. At this stage, the grade group 1.
  • Phase 2B of prostate cancer. A stage 2B prostate cancer is only in the prostate. The cancer may have grown to involve both sides of the prostate gland. At this stage, the PSA level is intermediate. The grade group 2.
  • Stage 2C prostate cancer. A stage 2C prostate cancer is only in the prostate. The cancer may have grown to involve both sides of the prostate gland. The PSA level is intermediate. The group of grade 3 or 4.
  • Stage 3A cancer of prostate. A stage 3 prostate cancer is only in the prostate. The cancer may have grown to involve both sides of the prostate gland. The PSA level is high. This stage includes the grade groups 1 to 4.
  • The phase 3B of prostate cancer. A phase 3B prostate cancer has grown beyond the prostate. The cancer can spread to the seminal vesicles, the bladder, the rectum, or other nearby organs. The PSA level may be low, intermediate or high. This stage includes the grade groups 1 to 4.
  • Stage 3C cancer of prostate. A stage 3C cancer of the prostate has a grade group 5. This includes any size of prostate cancer. The cancer may have grown beyond the prostate but has not yet come.
  • Stage 4A cancer of prostate. A stage 4A prostate cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
  • Stage 4B cancer of prostate. A stage 4B prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as bones.

The prognosis of prostate cancer

The cancer prognosis indicates how likely it is that the cancer can be cured. Your health care team can get a general idea of your outlook with the stage prostate cancer. But the scenario can't tell your future. Your personal prognosis may depend on:

  • Of his age.
  • Your health in general.
  • The stage of the cancer.
  • The results of the PSA test.
  • The results of the prostate biopsy.
  • The grade group.

Talk with your health care team about your prognosis if you want to know what to expect. Your health care team can explain what to consider when you think about your prognosis.

The survival rates of prostate cancer

The chances of surviving the cancer of the prostate is very good for the most people. To understand prostate cancer survival rates, experts in the study of many people with prostate cancer to see how many people are living five years after their diagnosis.

When the cancer is found only in the prostate, the probability of surviving at least five years is 100%. As the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, the chances of a minor. When the prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic prostate cancer, the odds of surviving at least five years is around 37%.

Note that the statistics of survival take five years to collect. The most recent of the rates of survival are people who have had prostate cancer treatment for more than five years. These people have not had access to the latest treatments. In the last few decades, the prostate cancer mortality rates have been reduced and survival rates have been increasing.

Treatment

Prostate cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and medications. Medicines for prostate cancer include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Sometimes other treatments are used to treat cancer of the prostate. These can include having the ablation therapy with heat or cold to hurt the cancer cells and receive the medicine that is given to the radiation directly to the cancer cells.

Your health care team considers several things when creating your prostate cancer treatment plan. They consider the size of your cancer, if the cancer has spread and how quickly it is growing. They also consider your overall health and your preferences. Talk with your health care team about your options.

Active surveillance for prostate cancer

Treatment of prostate cancer is not always needed right away. Instead, the health care team can see the cancer closely. Health professionals call this active surveillance. It often involves a regular follow-up blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies of the prostate. If the tests show that the cancer is growing, you can choose to start the treatment. For some cancers of the prostate, the treatment can never be.

Active surveillance may be an option for prostate cancer that does not cause symptoms and is expected to grow very slowly. Active surveillance may be appropriate for someone who has another serious health condition that makes cancer treatment more difficult.

Surgery for prostate cancer

Surgery for prostate cancer most often involves the removal of the prostate. The surgery to remove the prostate gland is called a prostatectomy. Often used when the cancer is located only in the prostate. Sometimes you can treat a cancer grows or spreads to the lymph nodes.

There are many ways to make a prostatectomy for prostate cancer, including:

  • Laparoscopic prostatectomy. During a laparoscopic prostatectomy for prostate cancer, a surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon places the surgical instruments through the courts. The surgeon uses the tools to remove the prostate.
  • The robotic prostatectomy. During a robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer, a surgeon uses manual controls to guide the robotic arms. The arms of the surgical instruments. The surgeon sits at a console to the use of the hand of the controls that move the robotic arms. As in a laparoscopic prostatectomy, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon guides the robotic arms to put the surgical instruments through the incisions in the abdomen to remove the prostate. The majority of prostate cancer operations using robotic prostatectomy.
  • Open prostatectomy. During the opening of the prostatectomy for prostate cancer, the surgeon makes a large incision in the lower abdomen. The surgeon removes the prostate through this incision the big. This procedure is also called retropubic prostatectomy. This way of doing surgery for prostate cancer is not very common. But it could be the right choice in some situations.

Prostate cancer surgery carries a risk of bleeding, infection, pain, and the formation of blood clots. If they occur, these complications tend to occur after the surgery. Laparoscopic prostatectomy and robotic prostatectomy tend to have a lower risk of these side effects.

Long-term, the prostate cancer surgery can cause leakage of urine, called urinary incontinence. It can also cause difficulty in achieving an erection, called erectile dysfunction. These side effects usually improve with time.

The external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. External beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy used for prostate cancer. This involves the use of a machine to aim beams of radiation on the body.

During external beam radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around your body. The machine is directed to the powerful energy beams for prostate cancer. The beams can be X-rays, protons or other types of energy.

You typically have external beam radiation treatments five days a week for several weeks. Some medical centers offer shorter radiotherapy treatment schedules. This approach uses a similar dose of radiation, but spreads the dose in fewer days. Some treatments of radiotherapy to spend more than a couple of days.

Health professionals that the use of external beam radiation to treat the cancer, that only in the prostate. For a small prostate cancer, you may be the only treatment needed.

Sometimes health care professionals recommend the external-beam radiation after the surgery. The radiation can help to kill any cancer cells that may remain. It can lower the risk that the cancer could spread or come back.

External-beam radiation also helps with advanced prostate cancer. When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as bones, the radiation may slow the growth of cancer. Radiation can also help with symptoms, such as pain.

The external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause side effects such as irritation of the intestines. This can cause diarrhea, blood in the stool, and a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely. Other side effects include frequent urination, painful urination, and difficulty starting urination. After treatment, it can also be the difficulty in achieving an erection.

Brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Brachytherapy involves the placement of the radiation within the body. Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat prostate cancer.

The majority of prostate cancer brachytherapy treatments are permanent. Permanent brachytherapy is sometimes called the low-dose-rate brachytherapy. This treatment uses the rice to the size of the seeds containing radioactive material. A healthcare provider uses a device to insert the seeds into the prostate gland. The seed slowly to give a low dose of radiation over time.

Sometimes, the prostate cancer brachytherapy treatments are temporary. Temporary brachytherapy is sometimes called brachytherapy high dose rate. This treatment involves the placement of radioactive material in the prostate, for a short period of time. Then, the radioactive material is removed. The treatment can be repeated for several days.

Health professionals that the use of brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer that is only in the prostate. Brachytherapy does not treat the cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Side effects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer include frequent urination, pain when urinating, and blood in the urine. There may be diarrhea, constipation, and feeling that the bowel does not empty completely. It can also be the difficulty in achieving an erection.

Ablation therapy for prostate cancer

Ablation is a procedure that is applied to the treatment directly to cancer cells in order to harm them. It is not a standard treatment for prostate cancer, but is used in some situations. Types of ablation therapy used for prostate cancer include:

  • Cryoablation for prostate cancer. Cryoablation uses cold water to hurt the cancer cells. It is also called cryotherapy. To treat cancer of the prostate, a health care professional inserts thin needles through the skin of the perineum. The needles go through the skin and into the prostate. The health care professional who uses a machine to cool the needle. This makes the fabric around the needle to freeze. The health professional carefully controls how much of the prostate is the freezing treatment. Then, the health care professional allows the tissue to thaw. The freezing and thawing is detrimental to cancer cells.
  • High-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer. High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment, also called HIFU, uses heat to injure cancer cells. The heat comes from high-intensity sound waves, called ultrasound waves. For the treatment of the prostate, a health care provider inserts a thin tube into the rectum. The probe emits ultrasound waves of the prostate. This makes the tissue is heated to a temperature that damages the cancer cells.

Health professionals sometimes the use of ablation therapy for the treatment of very small prostate cancers. Can be used when surgery is not possible. For example, the ablation may be the best option if other health conditions make surgery and other treatments are risky.

Health professionals sometimes the use of ablation therapy if the cancer comes back. Could help treat prostate cancer that returns after radiation therapy.

Ablation therapy side effects include pain and swelling in the treatment area and the difficulty in achieving an erection. Sometimes the treatment can damage the bladder or the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, called the urethra. This can lead to the use of urinary catheters to help with urination.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is a treatment that stops the hormone testosterone, either in fact or reaching prostate cancer cells. Prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to help them grow. Cutting off the supply of testosterone can cause cancer cells to die or to grow more slowly.

Hormone therapy treatments for prostate cancer include:

  • Drugs that prevent the testicles from producing testosterone. Some medications prevent the cells from getting the signals that tell them to produce testosterone. These medicines are referred to as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists. Another name for these drugs LHRH agonists and antagonists. The drugs that work this way include goserelin (Zoladex) and degarelix (Firmagon), among many others.
  • Medicines that stop the testosterone to act on the cancer cells. These drugs, known as anti-androgens, are often used with LHRH agonists. That is because the LHRH agonists may cause a brief increase in the levels of testosterone before the levels of testosterone decrease. The drugs that work this way include bicalutamide (Casodex), and nilutamide (Nilutamide), among many others.
  • The surgery to remove the testes, called orchiectomy. Surgery to remove both testicles lower the levels of testosterone in the body quickly.

Hormone therapy is often used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. Hormone therapy can shrink the cancer and slow its growth.

Hormone therapy is sometimes used together with radiation therapy to treat cancer that has not spread outside of the prostate. It helps to make the radiation therapy more effective.

Side effects of prostate cancer hormonal therapy include hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, loss of muscle mass and increase in body fat. There may be a loss of sexual desire, and can be more difficult to get an erection. Other hormone therapy risks include an increase in the likelihood of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Chemotherapy for prostate cancer

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. The chemotherapy medications are sometimes used with other medicines for hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Health professionals sometimes use of these drugs for advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy also helps to treat advanced prostate cancer when hormone therapy is not working.

Chemotherapy drugs commonly used for prostate cancer include docetaxel (Beizray, Docivyx, Taxotere) and cabazitaxel (Jevtana). A healthcare provider will give you medication through a vein. The treatments typically occur once every three weeks. Side effects of these medicines include feeling very tired, easy bruising, and the most frequent infections. It can also cause damage to the nerves in the fingers of the hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy. This can cause numbness and tingling in the fingers of the hands and feet.

Other chemotherapy drugs exist. Your healthcare team choose the best drugs for cancer.

Targeted therapy for prostate cancer

Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

For prostate cancer, targeted therapy drugs can help to treat cancer that spreads, or that occurs after other treatments. The health care teams often give the targeted therapy of drugs with hormone therapy drugs. Sometimes the targeted therapy drugs are used alone.

Many targeted therapy drugs. The targeted therapy drug is sometimes used for prostate cancer include:

  • Niraparib (Zejula).
  • Olaparib (Lynparza).
  • Rucaparib (Rubraca).
  • Talazoparib (Talzenna).

These targeted therapy medications come in the form of a pill or capsule that you swallow. Medications that block the action of enzymes in cancer cells that help the repair of DNA breaks. These targeted therapy drugs work only in people with certain changes in the DNA of their cells. To find out if these changes are present in your cells, your health care team can perform the blood test or some of its cancer cells.

Medication side effects of targeted therapy for prostate cancer include tiredness, nausea and loss of appetite. Other side effects include diarrhea, cough, easy bruising, and the most frequent infections.

Immunotherapy for prostate cancer

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

The immunotherapy of prostate cancer may include:

  • The cell therapy of prostate cancer. Cell therapy is a treatment that trains the immune system cells to find and stop the cancer cells. It is taking some of the cells of the immune system of your blood. The cells of going to a lab, where they receive the right treatment that will help you to find the prostate cancer cells. The treated cells are put back in your body where you may be able to fight the cancer. A treatment that works this way is sipuleucel-T (Provenge). It can cause flu-like side effects such as fever, chills, and headache.
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors for prostate cancer.Immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors help the cells of the immune system to find cancer cells. Some cells can send signals called immune checkpoints for the immune system. Immune control points to tell immune cells not to attack. Normally, the immune system of the control stations helps to keep the immune system damage to healthy cells. But some cancer cells also send these signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs prevent cancer cells from sending signals to not attack. These medications only work in people with cancer of the cells that have certain changes in the DNA. The majority of prostate cancers do not respond to this treatment. An example of a point-of-control immune inhibitor used for prostate cancer is pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Side effects may include feeling very tired, itchy skin, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and skin rash. Sometimes, this treatment causes the immune system to attack the organs, leading to serious complications.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for prostate cancer. Immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors help the cells of the immune system to find cancer cells. Some cells can send signals called immune checkpoints for the immune system. Immune control points to tell immune cells not to attack. Normally, the immune system of the control stations helps to keep the immune system damage to healthy cells. But some cancer cells also send these signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs prevent cancer cells from sending signals to not attack.

These medications only work in people with cancer of the cells that have certain changes in the DNA. The majority of prostate cancers do not respond to this treatment. An example of a point-of-control immune inhibitor used for prostate cancer is pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Side effects may include feeling very tired, itchy skin, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and skin rash. Sometimes, this treatment causes the immune system to attack the organs, leading to serious complications.

Health professionals sometimes use the immunotherapy of prostate cancer treatments for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic prostate cancer.

Radiopharmaceutical treatments for prostate cancer

Radiopharmaceutical treatments are medicines that contain a radioactive substance. Radiopharmaceutical treatments used for cancer can deliver radiation to the cancer cells.

For prostate cancer, a radiopharmaceutical treatments are typically used when the cancer is advanced. People with stage 4 prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, also called metastatic prostate cancer, you might consider the possibility of radiopharmaceuticals of the treatments.

The radiopharmaceuticals used for prostate cancer include:

  • Treatments that target PSMA. Radiopharmaceutical treatments can target a protein that is very common in cancer cells of the prostate called prostate-specific membrane antigen. It is also called PSMA. One of the radiopharmaceuticals in medicine that works this way is the lutetium Lu-177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto). This medication contains a molecule that is found and sticks to the PSMA in prostate cancer cells. The medication also contains a radioactive substance. A healthcare provider will give you this medicine through a vein. The drug is the prostate cancer cells and release of radiation directly to the cells. PSMA therapy can treat prostate cancer in any part of the body. This treatment only works if the prostate cancer cells to make the PSMA protein. Side effects include dry mouth, nausea, and tiredness.
  • Treatments that target the bone. Some of the radiopharmaceuticals drugs contain a radioactive substance that is attracted to the bones. When a health care professional puts this medication into a vein, it travels to the bones and releases radiation. A medication that works this way is the radius of the Ra-223 (Xofigo). Health professionals sometimes used when prostate cancer spreads to the bones, but not to other parts of the body. This treatment can help with the bone pain and other symptoms. Side effects include diarrhea and feeling very tired.

Alternative medicine

No complementary or alternative treatments to cure prostate cancer. However, complementary and alternative treatments for prostate cancer can help you deal with the side effects of cancer and its treatment.

Many people with cancer experience distress at some point. If you are distressed, you may feel sad, angry, or anxious. You may have trouble sleeping or find yourself constantly thinking about your cancer.

Several techniques of complementary medicine can help you deal with the anxiety, including:

  • Art therapy.
  • Dance or movement therapy.
  • Exercise.
  • Meditation.
  • Music therapy.
  • Relaxation techniques.
  • The spiritual practices.

Talk with your health care team if you are feeling the distress. Some of the things that cause problems are treated with medications and other treatments. If you are interested in trying complementary treatments, discuss them with your health care team to make sure that they are safe for you.

Coping and support

When you receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, you can enjoy a wide range of feelings. People with prostate cancer sometimes describe the feeling of disbelief, fear, anger, and sadness. With time, each person sees the way to deal with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Until you find what works for you, here are some of the ways of coping that you can try.

  • Learn enough to feel comfortable making treatment decisions. Learn everything you need to know about your prostate cancer and its treatment to understand what to expect from treatment and life after treatment. Ask your doctor, nurse or other health professional to recommend some good sources of information to help get you started.
  • Find a good listener. Find someone who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears can be useful when managing a cancer diagnosis. This could be a friend or family member. A counselor, medical social worker, or a member of the clergy can also provide useful guidance and care.
  • Connect with other cancer survivors. Other people with prostate cancer are sometimes the best to find out what is going on. They can provide a unique support network. Ask your health care team about support groups or organizations in the community that you can connect with other people who have cancer. In the united States, contact the American Cancer Society for more information about support groups.
  • Take care of yourself. Take care of yourself during the treatment of cancer by eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Try to exercise most days of the week. Get enough sleep each night so that you wake feeling rested.
  • Continue with the sexual expression. If you experience erectile dysfunction, follow up close with your partner in other ways. For some people who have problems with erectile dysfunction, a natural reaction may be to avoid all sexual contact. But consider the possibility of touching, holding, hugging, and cuddling, as a way to continue with the exchange of sexuality with your partner.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have symptoms that concern you, start by making an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional.

If your doctor suspects that you may have a condition of the prostate, you may be referred to a doctor who treats diseases of the urinary tract. This doctor is called to a urologist. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be referred to a cancer doctor called an oncologist. You can also meet with a doctor who uses radiation therapy to treat cancer. This doctor is called a radiation oncologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be aware of the restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Consider the possibility of a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all information that is obtained during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health professional.

Some questions to ask about prostate cancer include:

  • Do I have prostate cancer?
  • How big is my prostate cancer?
  • Has my prostate cancer spread beyond my prostate?
  • What is my Gleason score?
  • What is my prostate-specific antigen level?
  • More evidence is needed?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • There is a treatment option that you think is best for me?
  • I need cancer treatment right away, or it is possible to wait and see if the cancer grows?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • What is the probability that prostate cancer can be cured with the treatment?
  • If you have a friend or family member in my situation, what would you recommend?
  • You should see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team may ask you questions about your symptoms and your health history. Be prepared to answer questions such as:

  • When did you first start having symptoms?
  • The symptoms stayed or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Prostate cancer