Early stage prostate cancer does not always cause signs or symptoms. And, the symptoms of prostate cancer that do arise are similar to those of other prostate issues. This is why it is important to have concerns checked out by a doctor right away. Some things to look out for include:
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty urinating, including a weak or interrupted urine flow
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in the urine
- Bloody semen
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, upper thighs, pelvis or rectal area
While there is no proven way to avoid developing prostate cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Since obesity is linked to several types of cancer, including prostate cancer, you should:
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Reduce your daily fat intake.
- Cut back on red meat.
- Limit your carb intake.
- Drink green tea or take a green tea supplement.
- A 2008 study from the National Institutes of Health found that men who do so have a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer than those who do not.
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
According to the American Cancer Society, men at average risk should get a prostate screening starting at age 50. Those at a higher risk should start as early as age 40. Depending on the risk and previous test results, most men should be re-screened every year or every other year.
There are two common types of prostate exams used to detect prostate cancer – the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE). If abnormalities are detected using one of these tests, additional testing will be ordered.
Prostate Specific Antigen Testing (PSA)
PSA testing is a simple blood test that can be completed by your primary care provider or a urologist. This test can detect issues within the prostate, including an enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis or prostate cancer. If your PSA test results are come back higher than normal you will likely be advised to have more tests.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
During a DRE, a urologist will perform a physical exam of your prostate gland. Using their hand, the doctor will check for irregularities in the size, shape and texture of the prostate gland. Like with PSA testing, a suspicious DRE does not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. You will be directed to have more tests complete, like a transrectal ultrasound, MRI or biopsy.
Several factors determine an individual’s treatment options, including how fast the cancer is growing, whether it has spread to other parts of the body, and the potential benefits or risks of the treatment.
Low-grade prostate cancer may not need treatment right away. Many doctors recommend continual monitoring. During the monitoring phase, you would likely undergo regular blood testing, rectal exams and prostate biopsies. If results show that the cancer is progressing, you and your provider may choose to try traditional cancer treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
Surgery
Prostatectomy is a surgery option for treating cancer that's confined only to the prostate. This type of surgery removes part or all of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is located in the male pelvis, below the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to the penis.
This form of surgery is used to treat a variety of conditions affecting the prostate but is most commonly used as a treatment for prostate cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation uses high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. There are two main forms of prostate cancer radiation therapy treatments - radiation that comes from outside of your body (external beam radiation) or radiation placed inside your body (brachytherapy).
External beam radiation is an option for treating cancer that's confined to the prostate. A doctor may determine that external radiation is the best option to kill any cancer cells that might remain if there's a risk that cancer may come back or spread. At Bronson, patients undergoing this type of therapy will be treated using the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator’s HyperArc technology. This reduces radiation treatment times, reduces patient movement during treatment, and improves tumor targeting. Learn how it works.
Brachytherapy is an option for treating cancer that hasn't left the prostate. This form of therapy involves placing small radioactive seeds in your prostate tissue. This then delivers a low dose of radiation over a long period.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicine, either in pill form or through a vein, to kill rapidly growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be recommended for prostate cancer, especially if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
Hormone Therapy
Prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to help them grow. Hormone therapy helps your body stop producing the male hormone testosterone. By cutting off the supply of testosterone, cancer cells can die or will be limited in growth. This form of therapy is often used to treat advanced forms of prostate cancer, because it shrinks the cancer and slows its growth.
Hormone therapy is sometimes used before radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread beyond the prostate. It helps shrink the cancer and increases the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. This often includes using genetically engineered cells formed in a laboratory, to fight the cancer cells in the body.
Freezing or Heating
Another form of treatment involves destroying prostate tissue using hot or cold temperatures. Freezing prostate tissue may kill prostate cancer. This treatment involves using a cold gas to freeze the prostate tissue. Once the prostate tissue thaws, the freezing takes place again. This cycle of freezing and thawing can kill cancer cells. Heating prostate tissue also helps kills prostate cancer. This treatment involves using an extremely high-intensity heat focused on the prostate tissue, which causes it to die.
