Prostate cancer — the formation of cancerous cells in the prostate gland — is one of the most common cancers seen in men.
The prostate enlarges as men age. In most cases, this results in a condition known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which is not cancerous.
However, when the enlargement is due to cancer, there are chances that the disease can slowly spread to other areas of the body.
What causes prostate cancer?
The exact cause of prostate cancer or prostatic carcinoma is not known, but a few risk factors have been identified.
“Alcohol, smoking, obesity, consumption of red meat and family history [of the disease] are risk factors for prostate cancer,” says Dr Sridhar PS, senior consultant radiation oncologist, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru.
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Symptoms of prostate cancer
- Prostate enlargement
- Frequent urination at night (urinary incontinence)
- Burning sensation during urination
- Frequent urinary infections
- Blood in urine (hematuria)
- Blood in semen
- Bone pain and fragility (in case the cancer has spread to other parts of the body).
Tests for prostate cancer diagnosis
Experts say the symptoms of prostate cancer overlap with those of urinary infections. However, if the symptoms persist for long doctors do a few tests to discover the underlying reason.
Here are some common tests used to diagnose prostate cancer.
1. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
The prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced only in the prostate. Its elevated levels could indicate an abnormality or cancer in the prostate gland.
Though used as a primary test, the PSA test is not considered the gold standard for detecting prostate cancer. Doctors often advise an MRI or a CT scan if the PSA tests are abnormal.
2. Digital rectal examination
In this test, doctors examine the prostate for enlargement or abnormalities. But this traditional technique is no longer used extensively.
3. Biopsy
While PSA and other tests are used for indicating prostate cancer, biopsy is performed to confirm the cancer and its type. The enlargement of the prostate gland can be due to BPH (only limited to the prostate gland) or malignant tumour (cancer which can spread to other parts of the body).
4. PET scan
PET scan is a radio imaging test which traces the PSA circulating in the body. Once the cancer is confirmed to be malignant, doctors order for this scan to discover the stage of cancer.
Prostate cancer treatment
Once the cancer is confirmed, treatment is decided based on the stage of the disease.
“In preliminary stages (stage 1 or 2), when the tumour is in the prostate and not spread to other parts, the treatment options can be radiation therapy or robotic surgery,” says Dr Srikanth V, lead consultant urologist, uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon, Aasra Hospitals, Bengaluru. “In the case of advanced stages, a multimodal treatment involving chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or surgery is advised.”
Side-effects of treatment
All prostate cancer therapies have side-effects to a certain extent. The common ones include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Haematuria (blood in urine)
- Urinary incontinence
- Rectum inflammation
- Muscle loss and thinning of bones
- Urinary or rectal bleeding.
“The degree of occurrence of these side-effects varies from treatment to treatment,” says Dr Srikanth. “The mode of treatment is decided after explaining all the treatment procedures and their side-effects to the individual and his family. In some cases, the side-effects are temporary, and the individual regains the function after few months.”
Doctors recommend a once-in-three-months follow-up for three years and a once-in-six-months follow-up for the following two years to make sure the cancer has not recurred.
Takeaways
Prostatic carcinoma is a common cancer found in men over the age of 50. Regular health check-ups and follow-ups can help in early detection. Thanks to the availability of several advanced treatment methods, it can be cured completely if diagnosed in the preliminary stages.
