Prostate Cancer Facts
The prostate consists of a small gland situated under the bladder in men. It has a doughnut shape and fits around a tube, known as the urethra. This tube has the purpose of carrying the urine from the bladder. The prostate's function is to produce fluid that mixes with sperm during male ejaculation.
Prostate cancer has become the most common male cancer in most western countries. Most prostate tumors grow slowly and often do not require treatment, whereas other tumors grow much quicker and can spread to the bones causing severe pain.
The most common symptoms likely to be noticed when suffering from prostate cancer is an inability to urinate, difficulty in passing urine, especially at night, weak or interrupted flow of urine, traces of blood in urine and pain or discomfort noticed in the lower back, upper thighs and hips.
Although it is always advisable to seek medical advice if these symptoms are noticed, it is important to remember that they may be caused by other conditions which are not so serious such as benign prostate enlargement.
The exact cause of prostate cancer remains unknown, although exposure to high levels of radiation is one known cause for a very small proportion of cases. Prostate cancer can run in families, so if there is a familial history of prostate cancer, it is advised for other male members to have regular check ups with their doctor.
Prostate cancer is rare in those men under the age of 50 years. However, the risk of development increases following the age of 50 years and nearly half of prostate cancer cases occur in men over the age of 75 years. Again, those men from families with a history of prostate cancer remain at a higher than normal risk.
There is some evidence to suggest a high fat diet can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer and other studies indicate a diet higher in vitamin E, tomatoes and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts (cruciform vegetables) may also lower the risk, although evidence for this has not yet been submitted.
Although it was once believed that a vasectomy increased the risk of developing cancer, research which has been carried out suggests that there is no difference.
Currently, there is no known way of preventing prostate cancer, although studies have indicated that the consumption of 200 microgram's of selenium daily can reduce the risk of development of this disease.
As mentioned previously, some families have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer and having a close relative with prostate cancer can increase the risk by two or three times.
Prostate cancer that is diagnosed early can be successfully treated. Unfortunately, advanced prostate cancer can be quite difficult to cure. Every man over the age of 50 years should be aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer and if noticed, seek immediate medical advice.
There are many different tests used to diagnose prostate cancer although each one is not conclusive alone.
Rectal Examination - a gloved finger is inserted into the rectum to feel the size of the prostate gland.
PSA Blood Test - if the level of Prostate Specific Antigen is too high, there may be a suggestion of prostate cancer.
Ultrasound - small probe inserted into the rectum to determine the exact size of the prostate.
Biopsey - A tiny tissue sample is taken from the prostate via the rectum by insertion of needle.
X-ray - can reveal any cancer which may have spread to bones.
Prostate cancer news on the Web
The Impact Of Urologic Diseases On The American Public
Urologic conditions like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostate cancer are a major economic burden on Americans, resulting in health care costs of close to $40 billion annually, according to a newly released national report that charts the demographic and economic impact of urologic diseases in the U.S... |
Distinct Molecular Subtype Of Prostate Cancer Discovered
A collaborative expedition into the deep genetics of prostate cancer has uncovered a distinct subtype of the disease, one that appears to account for up to 15 percent of all cases, say researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute... |
Hormone-Depleting Drug Shows Promise Against Localized High-Risk Prostate Tumors
A hormone-depleting drug approved last year for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer can help eliminate or nearly eliminate tumors in many patients with aggressive cancers that have yet to spread beyond the prostate, according to a clinical study to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 1-5, in Chicago... |
Racial Disparities Revealed In Prostate Cancer Surgery
Black prostate cancer patients may not be getting the same quality of care as white patients, according to a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital who found racial disparities in the results of surgery to remove diseased prostates... |
Avoiding Repeat Biopsies In Prostate Cancer - MDxHealth Launches ConfirmMDx
Each year, in the United States, more than 650,000 men receive a negative prostate biopsy result, with around 25-35% of these results being false negative. However, a new prostate cancer test has been launched by MdxHealth. The test - ConfirmMDx™ for Prostate Cancer - will help physicians identify which men have a true-negative prostate biopsy from those who may have occult cancer... |
Ancient Remedy Slows Prostate Tumor Cell Proliferation
An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, according to a new paper from researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, is a compound isolated from honeybee hive propolis, the resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives... |
Prostate Cancer Stem Cells Identified Among Low-PSA Cells
Prostate cancer cells that defy treatment and display heightened tumor-generating capacity can be identified by levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) expressed in the tumor cells, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in Cell Stem Cell... |
Gay Men And Minorities Have Poorer Quality Of Life After Prostate Cancer Treatment
To improve the quality of life in gay men and minorities treated for prostate cancer, a greater awareness of ethnic and sexual preference-related factors is needed to help men choose a more-suitable treatment plan, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital conclude in a literature review published in Nature Reviews Urology... |
Boron-Nitride Nanotubes Show Potential In Cancer Treatment
A new study has shown that adding boron-nitride nanotubes to the surface of cancer cells can double the effectiveness of Irreversible Electroporation, a minimally invasive treatment for soft tissue tumors in the liver, lung, prostate, head and neck, kidney and pancreas. Although this research is in the very early stages, it could one day lead to better therapies for cancer... |
Denosumab (Xgeva) Not Approved For Metastasis Prevention
Amgen's application for expanded indications for denosumab (Xgeva) were turned down by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) - the expanded indications were to include bone metastases prevention in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer... |
Prostate Cancer Cells Destroyed By The Common Herb Oregano
Oregano, the common pizza and pasta seasoning herb, has long been known to possess a variety of beneficial health effects, but a new study by researchers at Long Island University (LIU) indicates that an ingredient of this spice could potentially be used to treat prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in American men... |
Males With Mutated BRCA1 Breast Cancer Gene Have Higher Prostate Cancer Risk
Men who carry the mutated BRCA1 gene have a four times greater chance of developing prostate cancer than other males, researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust reported in the British Cancer Journal. The mutated BRCA1 is found in people with a family history of not only breast cancer, but ovarian cancer as well... |
Prostate Cancer And Radiation Therapies - The Need For Additional Treatments
In the April 18 issue of JAMA, a study comparing traditional radiation therapy to treat localized prostate cancer with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton therapy reveals thats IMRT was linked to fewer gastrointestinal side effects, receipt of additional cancer treatments and hip fractures but to more erectile dysfunction, whilst those who received proton ... |
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