Everything You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer: Signs, Tests, and Treatments

In men above 50 years of age, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers, with 375,000 deaths and 1.4 million new cases reported globally in 2020. According to several health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (ACS), these numbers are going to double by 2025. Creating awareness among people and regular screening and checkups can improve the outcomes and increase the survival rate of an individual.

Understanding the Prostate and Its Function

The prostate is a small gland made up of glandular and connective tissues, part of the male reproductive system. In males, it is situated in front of the rectum and below the bladder. The prostate helps produce prostatic fluid (a constituent of semen), supports ejaculation, regulates urine flow, and aids in the production of hormones.

Common Signs and Early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Abnormal growth of cells in the prostate leads to prostate cancer. It is considered the most common type of cancer in males. The symptoms and signs of early-stage prostate cancer include:
1. Presence of blood in the semen or urine
2. Frequent urination
3. Painful ejaculation (erectile dysfunction)
4. Burning sensation while urinating (dysuria)
5. Uncontrolled bowel and bladder movement
6. Tiredness or fatigue

Major Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of prostate cancer is still unclear, but several factors increase the risk of prostate cancer: older men after the age of 50 years are at the strongest risk; the presence of disease in a family member or inheritance of mutated genes like BRCA1 or BRCA2; and African American men tend to develop more advanced forms of the cancer as compared to men of Hispanic or Asian descent. Lifestyle factors such as a diet high in unhealthy fats and red meats, low consumption of vegetables and fruits, lack of physical exercise resulting in obesity, smoking, and drinking alcohol may contribute to increased risk.
There are many other factors such as exposure to hazardous chemicals, carcinogenic agents or radiations like UV, X-rays, Gamma rays may result gene mutation or DNA defect which could lead to onset of cancer. It has been observed that increased level of testosterone may promote prostate cancer.

Staging and Grading: Analysis of the test result

Soon after the diagnosis of the cancer cells, doctors examine the stages and extent of the cancer in which cancer cells are grouped on the basis of stages from one to four. They may use TNM system for knowing the extent of the cancer. Number or scores known as Grade groups, or Gleason scores are assigned to the cancer cells on the bases of their severity or aggressiveness to treat the prostate cells easily.

1. Stage or extent of the cancer: Staging
Staging helps doctors know how far cancer has spread, whether it is still in the prostate, and how far it has spread in the body. For determining the staging, two major methods are

TNM System

Tumor (T): It helps in knowing the size of the tumor and where it is located in the prostate.
Nodes (N): Indicates the spread of cancer, whether it has grown to lymph nodes.
Metastasis (M): It lets the doctor know whether the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, such as bones or organs.

Grouping of stages (Stage I-IV)

Cancer cells are classified into four stages based on the diagnosis and treatment, which lets the doctor to cure the cancer and to known the severity of the disease. In the first stage of prostate cancer, tumor cell is very small and is generally present in the prostate itself and had not spread to the other parts of the body. If cancer is detected in this stage, then it can be easily treated and the survival rate of an individual increase.

Stage two, marks the growth of the cancer cells, it has begun to spread to the other parts of the body, but the speed of this growth is slow as compared to the higher stages of cancer. Size of tumor is small. In stage three, cancer cells have spreed to the nearby areas of prostate gland but not in the lymph node of the body. The last and most advanced stage of the cancer is stage IV, where the cancer has spread to other organs of the body, such as the lungs, bones, and lymph nodes. This is also called metastatic prostate cancer.

2. Risk level of cancer based on cell appearance: grading

It describes the appearance of prostate cancer under a microscope, which helps in predicting the growth of the cancer cells. Grade groups, or Gleason scores, are the assessment tools used by doctors. Gleason scores ranging from 6 (least aggressive/slow-growing) to 10 (most aggressive/growing and spreading quickly) are given to cancer cells. Whereas in the Grade group system, there are five levels from grade group 1 (least aggressive) to grade group 5 (most aggressive) based on the risk of cancer cells.

Abirapro 250mg Tablet: A Key Medicine for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Abiraterone acetate is the key component in the Abirapro 250mg tablet, used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, especially metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). It decreases the production of androgen by inhibiting the CYP17 enzyme, stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Treatment Options Available

Various treatment options are available for prostate cancer, but early detection is important for increasing the survival rate. Some of the treatment options are mentioned below:

1) Active Surveillance (regular monitoring)
Prostate cancer is common in old men, so it's crucial to undergo regular checkups to keep an eye on the changes that occur in the body of an individual for early-stage prostate cancer detection. Some of the tests for slow-growing, low-risk, and early-stage cancers are DRE (digital rectal exams), PSA tests, imaging, and biopsies.

2) Surgery (Radial Prostatectomy)
In this method, surgeons remove the entire prostate gland and some surrounding tissues using laparoscopy, open surgery, or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for localized prostate cancer that has not spread in healthier or younger men.

3) Radiation therapy
In this therapy, doctors use high-energy rays, such as X-rays, proton beams, and radioactive isotopes like cesium-131 and iodine-125. External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) uses radiation that is delivered from outside the body, whereas brachytherapy uses radioactive isotopes or seeds that are directly implanted into the prostate. Localized cancer or cancerous cells that had not affected the other parts of the body like bones and lungs.

4) Medications (Androgen Deprivation Therapy-ADT or hormone based)
In this type of therapies, medicines are used which inhibit hormones that are responsible for growth of cancer cells. Testosterone is inhibited as result growth of cancerous cells ceases. It works as an LHRH agonist or antagonist. Surgeons perform orchiectomy, or the removal of testicles by surgery, in this type of therapy. Doctors generally recommend it for advanced stages of cancer or in combination with radiation therapy.

5) Chemotherapy
Doctors often use chemotherapy for metastatic and advanced prostate cancer, and they also use it in cases when the body or an individual has become resistant to the hormone therapy or it stops working (castration-resistant prostate cancer). Doctors use drugs like cabazitaxel and docetaxel to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.

6) Immunotherapy
In immunotherapy, doctors prepare vaccines from the patient's immune cells, such as Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), which triggers the immune system to attack prostate cancer. They also use checkpoint inhibitors in this therapy if prostate cancers are caused by mutations in genes (DNA repair defects). Used for genetic and advanced forms of prostate cancer.

7) Targeted Therapy
Researchers use it to target specific types of cancer cells, which genetic defects cause. Doctors commonly use PARP inhibitors (rucaparib and olaparib) for this therapy. Physicians use targeted therapy in patients with a specific type of genetic mutation (e.g., BRCA 1, BRCA 2).

8) Focal therapy (alternate or emerging)
Doctors use it for treating small or localized tumors; instead of removing or irradiating the entire prostate, they only kill or destroy the small area where cancer cells are. Healthy cells around the gland suffer minimal damage. In high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), practitioners use ultrasound waves to heat and destroy the cancer cells, while in cryotherapy, they freeze and kill cancer cells. Practitioners use laser lights to burn cancer cells, which is considered safe, and they call this laser ablation.

Prognosis and Survival Rate of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer offers a high chance of recovery and survival rate if doctors detect it in the early stages. For regional and localized stages, the survival rate is 5-6 years, nearly 100%, while it declines to 34% for stage IV metastatic cases. Age, PSA levels, grade group or Gleason score, treatment response, and overall health are the important factors that affect prognosis. Advanced cases may require treatments like radiation, surgery, newer targeted therapies, or hormone therapy, while lower-risk cases can be safely monitored through regular checkups. With proper management and early diagnosis, the survival rate can be increased in most men with prostate cancer.

How may the risk of prostate cancer be decreased?

The risk of getting prostate cancer decreases when you take a proper, balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains while limiting the intake of processed foods, red meat, and excessive dairy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding the consumption of alcohol and smoking are the most important factors through which the risk of getting prostate cancer can be reduced. Individuals above 50 years should talk with the doctor about early screening options such as PSA tests, and individuals should know their family history of disease and maintain high cholesterol levels and diabetes to prevent prostate cancer.

Managing Side Effects During Treatment

Cancer treatment causes various side effects, which you can reduce or treat by talking to your healthcare team. Keep an eye on your systems and journey of treatment, and you should join support groups where people can interact with others who are undergoing the same pain. The human body reacts differently to treatment. Responses or undesired symptoms vary from individual to individual. Usually, they disappear with time as the treatment stops and the body recovers.

Some of the side effects result from radiation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, which patients may encounter during their treatment journey. These are feeling very tired, urinary problems, bowel problems, sexual side effects, thinning of bones, hot flashes, loss of hunger, depression or change of mood, hair loss, and weakening of the immune system. Cancer cells kill healthy cells of the body, especially fast-growing cells like gut and hair cells, not only cancer cells. As a result, side effects occur, which can generally be treated or managed by taking a few steps, which are:
● Eat a balanced diet, rich in proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins, and drink plenty of water.
● Exercise regularly (walking, not heavy) to stay fit and active.
● Get proper sleep so that your body can heal.
● Avoid eating spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.
● Consult the doctor, and share your problems with family, friends, and relatives.
● Seek help from your support group or counselor.
● In case of vomiting or upset stomach, ask for the medicines from your healthcare team.

Conclusion

Prostate cancer is manageable with the right treatment, early detection, and informed decision-making; it is the most common type of cancer in men. Regular screening tests like DRE and PSA, and closely observing the warning signs in the body, can be linked with the early stages of cancer; they should not be ignored. At Magicine Pharma, we try to make high-quality cancer medicines like Abirapro 250mg tablets affordable and accessible for all. Choose us for secure, safe, and trusted support throughout the treatment journey.

FAQs

Q1. Role of Magicine Pharma in treating prostate cancer?
Important life-saving medicines for cancer are provided by Magicine Pharma for treating prostate cancer on time effectively.

Q2. How can the diagnosis of prostate cancer be done?
MRI, imaging, PSA blood test, DRE (digital rectal exam), bone scan, and biopsy are the treatment options which are available for detecting prostate cancer.

Q3. Can doctors cure prostate cancer?
Yes, they can provide treatment for prostate cancer, and patients can be cured if it is detected at earlier stages.

References

1. Bergengren, O., Pekala, K. R., Matsoukas, K., Fainberg, J., Mungovan, S. F., Bratt, O., & Carlsson, S. V. (2023). 2022 update on prostate cancer epidemiology and risk factors—a systematic review. European urology, 84(2), 191-206.
2. Conti, D. V., Darst, B. F., Moss, L. C., Saunders, E. J., Sheng, X., Chou, A., & Strom, S. S. (2025). Trans-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of prostate cancer identifies new susceptibility loci and informs genetic risk prediction. Nature genetics, 53(1), 65-75.
3. Cornford, P., van den Bergh, R. C., Briers, E., Van den Broeck, T., Brunckhorst, O., Darraugh, J., & Tilki, D. (2024). EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG guidelines on prostate cancer—2024 update. Part I: screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent. European urology, 86(2), 148-163.
4. Duan, J., Yun, Q., Wang, Z., Zhang, T., Sun, X., Yang, H., & Zhao, L. (2025). Exploring the dosimetric advantages of a novel multi-modality radiotherapy platform in prostate cancer. Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 1-10.
5. James, N. D., Tannock, I., N'Dow, J., Feng, F., Gillessen, S., Ali, S. A., & Xie, L. P. (2024). The Lancet Commission on prostate cancer: planning for the surge in cases. The Lancet, 403(10437), 1683-1722.

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