Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Overview

• Prostate cancer is a disease developing in the prostate gland, crucial for reproductive health in men and people assigned male at birth.
• It is considered a serious disease, but often diagnosed before spreading beyond the prostate.
• Types of prostate cancer mostly include adenocarcinoma, with rare forms being small cell carcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, and sarcomas.
• It is the second most common cancer in men and people AMAB, after skin cancer.
• Statistics: 13 out of 100 people with prostates will develop prostate cancer; approximately 34,000 die annually in the US from the disease.

Symptoms and Causes

• Symptoms often don't appear in early stages but may include:
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Weak or interrupted urine flow
  • Painful urination or ejaculation
  • Blood in urine or semen
  • Low back, hip, or chest pain
• Causes are not fully understood but involve abnormal cell division and tumor formation.
• Risk Factors:
  • Age (higher risk after 50, common in people over 65)
  • Race (higher risk in Black or African ancestry)
  • Family history
  • Genetic factors (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2 mutations)
  • Lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and STIs

Diagnosis and Tests

• Screening can help detect prostate cancer early; usually starts at age 55.
• Tests:
  • Digital rectal exam
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
• Diagnostic procedures:
  • Imaging (MRI, ultrasound)
  • Biopsy for confirmation and aggression assessment
• Gleason score and staging determine cancer severity and treatment needs.

Management and Treatment

• Treatment depends on cancer's spread and growth rate.
• Surveillance: Active monitoring if cancer is slow-growing.
• Surgery: Prostatectomy for removing the prostate.
• Radiation therapy: Brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy.
• Systemic therapies:
  • Hormone therapy to manage testosterone
  • Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy for advanced cases
• Focal therapy: Newer treatments like HIFU, cryotherapy, laser ablation.
• Side effects: Incontinence, erectile dysfunction, infertility.

Prevention

• Regular screenings and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce risk.
• Recommendations include healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.

Outlook / Prognosis

• Early detection leads to excellent prognosis with a 99% five-year survival rate for localized cancer.
• Metastatic cancer has a lower survival rate (32% at five years).

Living With Prostate Cancer

• Seek medical advice for symptoms like difficulty urinating or blood in urine.
• Discuss treatment options, risks, and family risk with healthcare providers.
• Early diagnosis and treatment lead to better outcomes.

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