What is Prostate Cancer?

The primary function of the prostate gland is to produce a fluid that provides nutrition to the sperm and helps in the movement of sperm. Uneven growth of cells in the prostate gland results in prostate cancer. This disease has grown to be the most common disease diagnosed among older men. Several male hormones help in the multiplication of cancer cells which results in the growth of tumor size. Discoveries have been made for detecting nutritional and hormonal risk factors that are somewhere responsible for causing prostate cancer.

Basic facts to be known about Prostate Cancer

● Around 14 lakh cases were reported of Prostate cancer in 2022 across the world.
● The country with the highest number of cases reported of Prostate Cancer in 2022 is the United States of America.
● India comes in 10th place with almost 41,532 cases in 2020.
● Prostate Cancer is mostly detected in males above 50 years of age.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

The human body gives various signs that can be observed physically and help in detecting cancer. Confirmation tests are performed using blood samples and scans which help in diagnosing the stage of the disease. Prostate Cancer does not show any signs in the early stages. With the growth of cancer cells, the body gives clear symptoms of the presence of the disease. Some common symptoms are mentioned below:

● Feeling difficult to control the urine flow.
● Trouble while passing urine one may feel quite painful to pass urine.
● The pressure increases on the urine bladder due to enlargement in the prostate gland resulting in weak flow.
● Facing problems while emptying the bladder, as the size of the prostate gland increases the frequency of passing urine increases. Because the enlarged gland makes it difficult to pass the urine in one go.
● Blood can be observed in urine and semen; this indicates the advanced stage of prostate cancer.
● Pain in the lower back and pelvic region can be felt as the cancer grows.
● Reduction in the body weight without any known cause.
● Erectile Dysfunction is one of the common symptoms observed in case of Prostate Cancer.
● A person should get his tests done if he faces these symptoms and painful urination.

Factors responsible for causing Prostate Cancer

There are various factors responsible for Prostate cancer, which include genetic, external, and internal. The cancer cells start to grow when there is a change in the genetic makeup of DNA. The uneven cells come together and form a tumor which can spread to other parts of the body if not detected in early stages. The most common factors are mentioned below:

● Age is a primary factor when it comes to prostate cancer; men who are above 50 years of age are more prone to Prostate Cancer.
● History of Prostate Cancer in the family or blood relatives.
● Any change in the genetic makeup of DNA.
● Consuming tobacco and cigarettes for a longer duration may result in prostate cancer as the carcinogens present in these things increase the hormonal levels in males.
● Consumption of alcohol regularly.
● Intake of saturated animal fat, meat, and calcium (milk and dairy products) above a certain quantity increases the risk of cancer.
● People who are exposed to certain chemicals like herbicides have the chance of developing prostate cancer.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

The stage of cancer is decided based on the spread and growth of cancer cells. When prostate cancer is detected, doctors perform tests to check if these abnormal cells have spread to other parts of the body. There are 4 stages of prostate cancer which are mentioned below:

STAGE 1: The cancer cells have not spread to other parts and are present only inside the prostate gland.

STAGE 2: Cancer cells have almost covered the prostate gland but have not spread to other organs. There are 100% chances of survival if the cancer is diagnosed even in this stage.

STAGE 3: The cancer has started spreading outside the prostate gland, in seminal vesicles. There are chances that the cancer can be cured at this stage using hormonal therapies and surgery.

STAGE 4: In this stage, the cancer cells have spread to other parts including the urethra, rectum, and pelvis. The cancer is not completely curable at this stage. With the help of therapies and different treatment options available, the number of cancer cells can be reduced to a great extent. This results in more time with the patient to live his life and also reduces the symptoms of Prostate cancer.

Method through which Prostate Cancer can be diagnosed

Science with the help of technology has developed various techniques that help in detecting cancer along with the stage of the disease. Staging is the process through which the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body is detected. The stage of the disease is diagnosed with this process to get proper treatment. The tests that are performed to detect the stage of the cancer are mentioned below:

● PSA (Prostate-specific Antigen Test): A blood test is performed to measure the level of PSA which is a substance produced by the prostate gland. Increased PSA levels can be a sign of the presence of cancer.
● Screening Test: The doctor inserts his finger inside the rectum with the help of lubricant to physically examine any kind of swelling or enlargement of the prostate gland. Any enlargement of abnormal size of the prostate gland can be a symptom of cancer.
● Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to generate clear pictures of the prostate gland inside the body.
● MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): An imaging technique where radio waves are used to generate a clear and detailed picture of the organ.
● Biopsy: In this test, a sample from the prostate gland is taken to check the growth of cancerous cells.
● Urine Test: This test is very useful in detecting the PCA3 gene in the urine for detecting prostate cancer.
● Gleason score: This test is performed to detect the grade of prostate cancer cells.
● Genomic Testing: With the help of this test, it is known that prostate cancer is caused due to any change or mutation in genes.
● Bone Scan: A test performed to detect if the cancer cells are present inside the bone. A small quantity of radioactive material is taken and injected into a vein which travels through the bloodstream. This radioactive material gets collected in the bone where cancer cells are present. With the help of a scanner, we can easily observe these cells.

Ways to prevent Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer can be prevented if we take care of our health externally and internally. Some of the common ways are mentioned below:

● Taking a balanced diet by consuming fruits and vegetables has all the important macro and micronutrients.
● Keeping body weight in control.
● Intake of polyphenols which prevent prostate cancer like green tea.
● Consuming foods like cruciferous vegetables, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and Folate.
● Performing physical activities regularly makes our body strong.

Treatment options for Prostate Cancer

Several treatment options are available for treating prostate cancer. The type of treatment depends upon depends on various factors like the stage of the cancer, medical history of the patient, and age.

● Surgery: Complete removal of prostate gland having cancerous cells. It is the most common treatment method used to remove the disease completely from the body.
● Radiation Therapy: High-energy rays, such as X-rays, alpha, and gamma rays are used to kill cancer cells. This process reduces the size of the tumor.
● Hormonal Therapy: Enzalutamide 40mg capsule and Apalutamide 60mg tablet are medicines that are given to Prostate cancer patients. These mediations control the production of hormones which help in the multiplication of cancer cells. You can buy these anticancer medicines at affordable prices on Magicine Pharma.
● Radiopharmaceutical Therapy: In this therapy, radiation is directed to the microenvironment of tumor cells.
● Immunotherapy: In this treatment method, different substances whether produced naturally or chemically help the immune system to fight against the cancer cells and prevent their growth.

FAQ's

1. Is it possible to cure prostate cancer completely?
Yes, it is possible to cure prostate cancer in the early stages as it has not spread to other parts of the body.

2. What are the common symptoms of prostate cancer?
Painful and frequent urination, blood in urine, pain in the pelvic area, and erectile dysfunction are commonly observed symptoms in males.

3. What is the survival rate of prostate cancer patients?
More than 95% of the population detected with prostate cancer have a survival rate of 1 year or more than that. It depends on the stage of the cancer.

4. Is it possible to recover from Prostate Cancer?
Yes, it is possible to cure Prostate cancer if it gets detected in early stages.

5. Who is more prone to prostate cancer?
Males above 50 years of age are more prone to prostate cancer.

Reference

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9870033/
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/prostate-hormone-therapy-fact-sheet
https://www.wcrf.org/cancer-trends/prostate-cancer-statistics/
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq
https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/whats_new/Prostate_cancer_draft_document01092022.pdf
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html