Prostate Cancer, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention!

About Prostate Cancer:

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve men’s health or help them live longer. Explore the links on this page to learn about prostate cancer treatment, prevention, screening, statistics, research, and more.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland that lies at the base of the bladder in men. It consists of two symmetrical lobes and surrounds the first part of the tube (the urethra) that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The urethra also carries semen, which is the fluid containing sperm. The prostate is colored orange in the diagram

When Does Prostate Cancer start?

Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer cells and can spread to other areas of the body. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer? prostate cancer

Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow uncontrollably. The prostate is a gland found only in males. It makes some of the fluid that is part of semen. The prostate is below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The size of the prostate changes with age. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men.

Just behind the prostate are,

glands called seminal vesicles that make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, goes through the center of the prostate.

The back of the prostate gland is close to the rectum (back passage). Near the prostate are collections of lymph nodes. These are small glands, each about the size of a baked bean. They form part of the lymphatic system.

The size of the prostate can change as a man ages. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men.

Sign And Symptoms:

Many men with prostate cancer have no noticeable symptoms. Often, the first sign of the disease is an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam.

Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease. Symptoms may include:

• Dribbling at the end of urinating.
• Inability to urinate (urinary retention).
• Incomplete emptying of your bladder.
• Incontinence.
• Needing to urinate 2 or more times per night.
• Pain with urination or bloody urine (these may indicate infection).
• Slowed or delayed the start of the urinary stream.
• Straining to urinate.
• Strong and sudden urge to urinate.
• Weak urine stream.

When To See a Doctor?

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.

Debate continues regarding the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, and medical organizations differ on their recommendations. Discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Together, you can decide what’s best for you.

PC Causes

:

• 1. Aging:

• As the body ages, harmless nodules develop in the tissues of the prostate, which accumulate and gradually enlarge the gland. Eventually, the gland becomes large enough to ‘press’ or ‘strangle’ the urethra and obstruct urination.

• 2. Low levels of zinc:

• The tissues of the prostate gland normally have high levels of zinc. Zinc levels gradually decrease as you grow older.

• 3. Over 50 testosterone levels start decreasing:

• This causes an increase in the quantity of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which over-produces prostate cells.

• 4. Postural faults And obesity could also affect prostate health:

• A heavy body and lengthy periods of sitting put more pressure on the pelvic region and perineum, resulting in congestion in and around the prostate.

• 5. Constipation can also be a cause:

• Hardened feces and an overloaded rectum cause excessive pressure on the prostate gland.

Types of PC:

Almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells (the cells that make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen).

Other Types of PC include:

• Sarcomas.
• Small cell carcinomas.
• Neuroendocrine tumors (other than small cell carcinomas).
• Transitional cell carcinomas.

These other types of prostate cancer are rare. If you have prostate cancer it is almost certain to be an adenocarcinoma.

Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most grow slowly. In fact, autopsy studies show that many older men (and even some younger men) who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives. In many cases, neither they nor their doctors even knew they had it.

Risk Factors:

Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:

• Age: Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
• Race: For reasons not yet determined, black men carry a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. In black men, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
• Family history: If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Also, if you have a family history of genes that increase the risk of breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or a very strong family history of breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
• Obesity: Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that’s more difficult to treat.

Complications:

Complications of prostate cancer and its treatments include:

1. Cancer That Spreads (metastasizes):

• Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs, such as your bladder, or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs.
• Prostate cancer that spreads to the bones can cause pain and broken bones.
• Once prostate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, it may still respond to treatment and may be controlled, but it’s unlikely to be cured.

2. Incontinence:

• Both prostate cancer and its treatment can cause urinary incontinence.
• Treatment for incontinence depends on the type you have, how severe it is, and the likelihood it will improve over time.
• Treatment options may include medications, catheters, and surgery.

3. Erectile Dysfunction:

• Erectile dysfunction can result from prostate cancer or its treatment, including surgery, radiation, or hormone treatments.
• Medications, vacuum devices that assist in achieving an erection, and surgery are available to treat erectile dysfunction.

An international study determined that the men who ate the most soy products were the least likely to die of prostate cancer.

Prevention:

You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

1. Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables:

• Avoid high-fat foods and instead focus on choosing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health.
• Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proved.
• But eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.

2. Choose healthy foods over supplements:

• No studies have shown that supplements play a role in reducing your risk of prostate cancer.
• Instead, choose foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals so that you can maintain healthy levels of vitamins in your body.

3. Exercise most days of the week:

• Exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight, and improves your mood.
• There is some evidence that men who don’t exercise have higher PSA levels, while men who exercise may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

4. Maintain a healthy weight:

• If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week.
• If you need to lose weight, add more exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat each day.
• Ask your doctor for help creating a plan for healthy weight loss.

5. Talk to your doctor about the increased risk PC:

• Men with a high risk of prostate cancer may consider medications or other treatments to reduce their risk.
• Some studies suggest that taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, including finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), may reduce the overall risk of developing prostate cancer.
• These drugs are used to control prostate gland enlargement and hair loss in men.

Vitamin, mineral, and other supplements:

A. Vitamin E and selenium:

•  Some early studies suggested that taking vitamin E or selenium supplements might lower prostate cancer risk.
• But in a large study known as the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), neither vitamin E nor selenium supplements were found to lower prostate cancer risk. In fact, men in the study taking the vitamin E supplements were later found to have a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer.

B. Soy and isoflavones: 

• Some early research has suggested possible benefits from soy proteins (called isoflavones) in lowering prostate cancer risk. Several studies are now looking more closely at the possible effects of these proteins.
• Taking any supplements can have both risks and benefits. Before starting vitamins or other supplements, talk with your doctor.

C. Medicines:

Some drugs might help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

I. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors:

5-alpha reductase is an enzyme in the body that changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the main hormone that causes the prostate to grow. Drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), block this enzyme from making DHT. These drugs are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), non-cancerous growth of the prostate.

Large studies of both of these drugs have been done to see if they might also be useful in lowering prostate cancer risk. In these studies, men taking either drug were less likely to develop prostate cancer after several years than men getting an inactive placebo.

II. Aspirin:

Some research suggests that men who take daily aspirin might have a lower risk of getting and dying from prostate cancer. But more research is needed to show if the possible benefits outweigh the risks.

Long-term aspirin use can have side effects, including an increased risk of bleeding in the digestive tract. While aspirin can also have other health benefits, at this time most doctors don’t recommend taking it just to try to lower prostate cancer risk.

III. Other drugs:

Other drugs and dietary supplements that might help lower prostate cancer risk are now being studied. But so far, no drug or supplement has been found to be helpful in studies large enough for experts to recommend them.

Diagnosis:

If a DRE or PSA test detects an abnormality, your doctor may recommend further tests to determine whether you have prostate cancer, such as:

• Ultrasound:

  • If other tests raise concerns, your doctor may use transrectal ultrasound to further evaluate your prostate.
  • A small probe, about the size and shape of a cigar, is inserted into your rectum.
  • The probe uses sound waves to create a picture of your prostate gland.

• Collecting a sample of prostate tissue:

  • If initial test results suggest prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend a procedure to collect a sample of cells from your prostate (prostate biopsy).
  • Prostate biopsy is often done using a thin needle that’s inserted into the prostate to collect tissue. The tissue sample is analyzed in a lab to determine whether cancer cells are present.

• MRI fusion:

  • While still being developed worldwide, MRI fusion to assist in prostate biopsy and diagnosis is being used more and more

Screening for Prostate Cancer:

One screening test for prostate cancer is a blood test, which can be abnormal (not normal) for several reasons besides prostate cancer. The only way to know if an abnormal test is due to cancer is to do a biopsy. A biopsy is minor surgery to get small pieces of the prostate to look at under a microscope. If the biopsy shows there are cancer cells, then your doctor will discuss treatment options.

Treatment of prostate cancer may include:

• ► Close monitoring and follow-up visits.
• ► Radiation.
• ► Surgery to remove the prostate Side effects from radiation or surgery may include:
• ► Impotence.
• ► Loss of bladder control.
• ► Problems with your rectum Medical groups do not agree on screening recommendations.

Prostate Cancer Stages:

Once testing is complete, your doctor assigns your cancer a stage. This helps determine your treatment options. The prostate cancer stages are:

First Stage I:

This stage signifies very early cancer that’s confined to a small area of the prostate. When viewed under a microscope, the cancer cells aren’t considered aggressive.

Second Stage II:

Cancer at this stage may still be small but may be considered aggressive when cancer cells are viewed under the microscope. Alternatively, cancer that is stage II may be larger and may have grown to involve both sides of the prostate gland.

Third Stage III:

Cancer has spread beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles or other nearby tissues.

Fourth Stage IV:

Cancer has grown to invade nearby organs, such as the bladder, or spread to lymph nodes, bones, lungs, or other organs.

Treatment Options:

Once your prostate cancer has been diagnosed and staged, you have a lot to think about before you and your doctor chooses a treatment plan. It’s important that you think carefully about each of your choices. You will want to weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects.

Which treatments are used for prostate cancer?

Depending on each case, treatment options for men with prostate cancer might include:

• Watchful waiting or active surveillance.
• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Cryotherapy (cryosurgery).
• Hormone therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• Vaccine treatment.
• Bone-directed treatment.

These treatments are generally used one at a time, although in some cases they may be combined.

Who treats prostate cancer?

9. Alternative Medicine:

No complimentary or alternative treatments will cure prostate cancer.

However, complementary and alternative prostate cancer treatments may help you cope with the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Nearly everyone diagnosed with cancer experiences some distress at some point. If you’re distressed, you may feel sad, angry, or anxious. You may experience difficulty sleeping or find yourself constantly thinking about your cancer.

Several complementary medicine techniques may help you cope with your distress, including:

• Art therapy.
• Dance or movement therapy.
• Exercise.
• Meditation.
• Music therapy.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Spirituality.

Discuss your feelings and concerns with your doctor. In some cases, treatment for distress may require medications.

Nutrition Recommendations:

• Fruits and Vegetables:

  • Eat 8-10 servings (about ½ cup=1 serving) of colorful fruits and vegetables daily (especially nutritious choices include: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, arugula, garlic, leeks, onions, carrots, sweet potato, berries, melon, citrus fruits, grapes, herbs, and spices)
  • Consume adequate lycopene:
    • ¾ cup of tomato sauce or 12 oz of tomato juice or 6 T of tomato paste.
    • Consider drinking pomegranate concentrate 1 oz per day.

• Grains, Legumes:

  • Limit processed and refined grains, flours, sugars.
  • Achieve 25-35 grams of fiber from food daily.
    • Include 1-2 tablespoons per day of ground flaxseeds.
  • Avoid overconsumption of foods high in carbohydrates.

• Fats and Oils:

  • Limit intake of butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and whole milk/dairy.
  • Limit intake of linoleic acid found in corn oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil.
  • Instead, eat more olive oil, nuts & seeds (especially walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds), avocado, cold-water fish.
    • Eat 2 brazil nuts per day for adequate selenium (or may consume via halibut, sardines, and shrimp).
    • Eat more wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, and hazelnuts for vitamin E.

• Animal Foods:

  • Limit red meat (beef, pork, lamb) intake to 18 oz of cooked weight per week.
  • Avoid processed meats (ham, bacon, salami, hot dogs, sausages, pastrami).
  • Limit intake of flame-grilled meats (grilled veggies are a great alternative!) Instead, replace meats with soyfoods, try for 1 serving per day of soyfood (tofu, edamame, tempeh, soynuts, etc),
  • Limit dairy intake to less than 2 servings per day, preferably lower fat versions (8oz of milk or yogurt, 1 oz of cheese, ½ cup of ice cream).

• Beverages:

  • Limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks per day.
  • Increase consumption of green tea to 1-4 cups per day.
  • Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda, juices, sports drinks, sweet teas).

• Other:

  • -Consume adequate, but not excessive calcium.
    • Total intake from foods and supplements not to exceed 1200mg per day.
    • Only take calcium supplements if recommended by your physician.
  • Do not consume foods that were reheated in plastic containers in the microwave.

• Exercise:

  • Try for 3 hours per week of vigorous activity such as biking, tennis, jogging, swimming, etc. Brisk walking can count, if it is intense enough to increase your heart rate.
• Avoid gaining weight (unless you are underweight); lose weight if you are overweight.
• Quit Smoking, today!

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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

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