Cancer of the Prostate
There are a number of different tests which are used to detect prostate cancer although each one of them are not conclusive on their own. The following lists will give a brief description of the examinations which are most commonly used:
Rectal Examination
The doctor/surgeon will insert a gloved finger into the back passage to feel the prostate gland. This will help the doctor to determine whether or not the prostate is larger than normal. If enlarged, it does not necessarily mean that it is cancerous.
PSA Test
This involves a blood test which measures the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood. If the PSA is too high, it might be suggested that prostate cancer has developed although there are several other conditions which may have increased the PSA levels in the blood.
Ultrasound
This involved a small probe being inserted into the back passage for the purpose of an ultrasound scan. This will illustrate the exact size of the prostate.
Biopsy
A biopsy involves a small sample of tissue from around the prostate being taken. This is performed by a probe being inserted into the back passage and a small needle jabbing the prostate.
X-rays
X-rays can illustrate the presence of cancer which has spread from the prostate to the nearby bones.
At present, routine screening for cancer of the prostate are not performed in any country due to the fact that the tests are not accurate enough to be used in general. For example, screening every man by PSA test would highlight many men who did not have cancer and on the other hand many men who do have cancer would go undetected. However, those men who have a family history of prostate cancer may benefit from certain screening. This should be discussed with your doctor.
Prostate cancer is detected in more than half of those patients who develop it at an early stage making treatment for successful for nine out of ten cases. The other half of patients are diagnosed after the cancer has been become advanced and spread. Treatment can provide those patients with several extra years of life and prevent pain of the disease, although it does not normally provide a cure.
Some prostate cancers grow fairly slowly, therefore no treatment is required. Where treatment is required, three main methods are used:
Surgery
Surgery known as prostatectomy where the whole of the prostate is removed.
Radiotherapy
During radiation treatment, high energy rays are used to kill the cancerous cells. This also helps to destroy the originating tumour and helps to reduce the pain which have been caused by the cancerous tumour cells which have spread to the bones.
Brachytherapy
This newer type of radiotherapy consists of small radioactive wires or pellets being inserted directly into the tumour, killing it from the inside. This has found to be as effective as other available treatments, sometimes even more so. It has also been found that there are fewer side effects from this type of treatment.
Hormone Therapy
The growth of the cancer cells in the prostate depends on the male hormones, known as androgens. There are certain drugs available which reduce the amount of androgens which are produced by the body. They also work by blocking the effect of androgens on the cancer cells. This then prevents the growth of the tumour or shrinks it. It has been found, however, that most prostate cancers, after approximately five years go on to develop the ability to develop without androgens thus the hormone therapy stops working.
Prostate cancer news on the Web
Prostate Cancer: The Disease’s ‘Cell of Origin’ Found
Prostate cancer affects hundreds of thousands of men in the US every year, causing tens of thousands of deaths. A recent finding by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles may have made a discovery that will change that. The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that the scientists at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found the ‘cell of origin’, which is the type of ... |
Prostate Cancer: A New Ground Zero
A type of prostate cell that has been largely ignored by cancer researchers can, in fact, trigger malignant prostate cancer, according to new studies by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scientists and their colleagues. HHMI researcher Owen N. Witte and his colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that the somewhat overlooked prostate basal cell can spawn tumors ... |
Prostate Cancer 'Cell of Origin' Identified
For researchers, a key to studying any cancer is finding its "cell of origin." Now scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles say they've found just that -- a specific type of cell that gives rise to prostate cancer. |
Prostate cancer 'cell' identified
A cell that could be the "mother" of all prostate tumours has been identified by scientists. Samples of the "basal" cells taken from healthy human prostate tissue triggered cancer in mice with suppressed immune systems. |
Canines Used To Sniff Out Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with about 1 in 6 affected. Like so many other cancers, catching it early is the key. Now, doctors have discovered a new means of early detection using dogs. |
Cancer Vaccine: 4 Months of Life Worth $100K?
Prostate cancer vaccine, Provenge, adds 4 months to life, at a pricetag of 100K. The first-ever approved cancer vaccine, Provenge offers hope to men with advanced prostate cancer, but the high cost of this new treatment raises healthcare policy questions. Prostate cancer - Sipuleucel-T - Cancer - Cancer vaccine - Health |
Aggressive prostate cancer tend to retain denser bones
Men who develop prostate cancer, especially the more aggressive and dangerous forms that spread throughout the body, tend to retain denser bones as they age than men who stay free of the disease, suggests new research from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health. |
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