What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the type of cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system and is an organ that surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. It occurs when abnormal cells grow in the prostate, which is the organ responsible for producing seminal fluid. It is one of the most common cancers in men and the chances of developing it increase with age.
What are the symptoms?
It is a type of cancer that often has no symptoms. To diagnose it early, a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can be done. Often, the PSA level rises before there are any symptoms.
Symptoms that occur when the cancer is progressing are:
- Difficulty and pain in urinating
- Frequent urination
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in the urine
- Pain in the lower back and pelvis that does not go away with time
- Unintentional weight loss
Causes of prostate cancer or why it occurs
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. People who are at higher risk for prostate cancer are:
- Black men
- Men over 60 years of age
- Men who have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer.
Can it be prevented?
Since the cause of prostate cancer is unknown, it cannot be prevented. However, certain measures can be taken, such as a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular physical exercise.
What is the treatment?
Treatment options depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s state of health. If the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland, the most common treatments are:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
Another treatment is hormone therapy, which is used when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
If after performing these treatments, the prostate cancer is removed, a chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatment is performed.