Prostate Cancer - Causes & Treatment Options

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that begins growing in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Prostate cancer is classified as an adenocarcinoma, or glandular cancer, that begins when normal semen-secreting prostate gland cells mutate into cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer, very common among older men. Prostate cancer is uncommon in men less than 45, but becomes more common with advancing age. Prostate cancer is a complex disease and many variables need to be considered by each patient and his doctor. Since prostate cancer is a disease of older men, many will die of other causes before a slowly advancing prostate cancer can spread or cause symptoms.

Screening for prostate cancer is controversial because it is not clear if the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of follow-up diagnostic tests and cancer treatments. An important part of evaluating prostate cancer is determining the stage, or how far the cancer has spread. The death rate for prostate cancer is going down, and the disease is being found earlier as well. Although the number of men with prostate cancer is large, most men diagnosed with this disease do not die from it.

Symptoms

Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer include impotence, blood in the urine, swollen lymph nodes in the groin area and pain in the pelvis, spine, hips or ribs. Symptoms of prostate cancer develop along with the gradual enlargement of the gland, often affecting urinary and sexual function. Symptoms do not occur until the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, highlighting the importance of regular checkups.

Advanced prostate cancer may cause additional symptoms as the disease spreads to other parts of the body. However, many men who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the point of diagnosis and the severity of the disease. Treatments of curative intent for locally advanced prostate cancer may include combinations of the options mentioned above, and under certain circumstances, additional hormonal therapy. Treatments directed at shrinking the cancer often can produce significant pain relief. Treatment decisions should be made by a patient and his health service provider.