The prostate is a gland located beneath the male bladder.? The main function of the prostate is to produce fluid which protects and deliver sperm.
Prostate often enlarges gradually after age 50. At the age of 70, 80% of men have an enlarged prostate. Many elderly men who have trouble urinating due to prostate enlargement (non-cancerous). In some men, this enlargement was followed by the growth of cancer.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer occurs when prostate cells to grow faster than normal conditions to form lumps or tumors that have a malignancy. This most common cancer in men, especially those aged over 65 years.
Cause
Like other cancers, prostate cancer causes are unknown. Here are some factors that increase cancer risk:
* Age. Most cases occur in older men.
* Family history and heredity. When your father or brother of prostate cancer at the relatively young age (under 60), your risk is higher. Also if your sister's breast cancer.
* Ethnic groups. Asian men have a lower risk than black men or white.
* Exposure to cadmium metal
Symptom
Growth of prostate cancer is often very slow, could not cause symptoms for years. With the increasingly growing cancer, complaints began to arise because of pressure on the urethra causing irritation or clog the flow of urine. The symptoms include:
* Water art is not current. Urine flow is weak and needs a longer time to finish urinating.
* Suspension. You may have to wait a while on the toilet until urine begins to flow.
* Drops. Little urine may drip and stain your pants in not long after you finish urinating in the toilet.
* Frequency. You are more frequent urination than usual.
* Urgency. You feel very 'dying' pee suddenly.
* Less exhaustive. You feel you're pee really not exhaustive.
Note: all of the above symptoms felt by many elderly men. Most of those who feel it is only affected by non-cancerous prostate enlargement. Should see a doctor to be sure.
* Other symptoms such as pain at the base of the penis or bloody urine occur only in advanced prostate cancer.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects prostate cancer, he will do the following:
* Tactile through the anus (digital rectal examination). By wearing gloves, the doctor will insert his finger into the rectum to feel the back of the prostate gland. When you feel there is enlargement or hardening, other tests will be performed to diagnose further.
* Blood tests. Blood tests required to measure prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein produced by both normal and cancerous prostate cells. The older, the more we produce PSA. Although not conclusive, the content of high PSA can indicate you have cancer. At the stage of treatment, PSA levels decreased indicating the effectiveness of therapy being undertaken.
* PCA3 test. The presence PCA3 higher levels in the urine showed the presence of prostate cancer. This test is more accurate than blood tests (PSA), but not all medical facilities provide.
* Biopsy. A biopsy is taking a little sample of tissue for examination under a microscope. Biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis with prostate cancer using a needle inserted into your rectum. Several samples are usually taken in different parts of the prostate.
* CT scans, MRI scans and other investigation may be needed to find out more rate of spread of cancer.
Stage Prostate Cancer
In the early stages of prostate cancer is still localized, but at the level of information can be spread to other parts of the body such as bone and? lymph nodes in the groin. Stage prostate cancer is determined by how far the level of spreading.
Stage prostate cancer using the TNM system, T = tumor, N = nodes, M = metastases:
* T1 = tumor only in the prostate, yet can be felt through the palpability through the anus.
* T2 = tumor is still inside the prostate, it can be felt through the palpability.
* T3 = tumors have spread to surrounding tissues such as the seminal vesicle gland which produces semen
* T4 = tumor has spread into the bone or lymph node
* N1-3 means the cancer has spread to nodes / lymph glands. Treatments were: N0 means that has not spread to nodes.
* M followed 1a, b or c indicates the cancer has spread to bone or other organs.
Therapy
Handling of prostate cancer is very complex, including surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Usually a combination of more than one treatment method is executed. Handling is done depends on:
* The size, stage and degree of ferocity cancer (PSA level).
• The condition of the patient: age, general health, and preferences.
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