It produces fluid that contributes to semen.
Prostate cancer is categorized into four stages that indicate severity and spread.
This article will help you understand the causes of this condition, its signs, treatments, and prognosis.
jarun011 / Getty Images
jarun011 / Getty Images
Prostate Cancer Symptoms: What Are the Signs?
Prostate cancer can be challenging to diagnose in its early stages since it may not cause many symptoms.
There can also be considerable variation in how it presents from person to person.
Primarily, the symptoms occur when cancerous tumor growth obstructs theurethra(the tube for urine and semen).
Prostate Cancer by The Numbers
Prostate cancer is relatively common.
Early Signs of Prostate Cancer
Any sign of prostate cancer warrants medical evaluation.
The following are common signs of more progressed cases:
What Causes Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer arises when there are changes in the genes of prostate cells.
Researchers arent exactly sure what triggers this process.
However, theres no single test for this condition.
How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Heres a quick breakdown:
Gleason Score
Pathologists useGleason scorescaling to evaluate the severity of the case.
Theyre rated on a scale of 1 (they look healthy) to 5 (cells are cancerous).
Approaches taken in early-stage prostate cancer can look different thantherapiesfor when the disease has advanced.
Much depends on how the body reacts to the treatment and whether methods yield success.
ADT is typically recommended as a first-line approach to slow the progression of cancer.
Severe prostate cancer can cause cancer in the bones, which inhibits red blood cell production.
Cancer metastasizing in this way can cause severe bone pain, bone fracture, and bone marrow cancer.
Other complications can arise with prostate cancer.
Furthermore, prostate cancer can lead to a loss of bladder control (incontinence).
Screening and early treatment have improved the outlook for prostate cancer.
However, this number drops considerably for advanced prostate cancer, for which this rate is 32.3%.
Every case of prostate cancer is different, but most people can live well following diagnosis.
However, living with this condition can impact your quality of life and your emotional and mental health.
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U.S. Preventative Services.Prostate cancer: screening.
National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer treatment (PDQ): health professional version.
American Cancer Society.Prostate Cancer Stages.
Dawson NA.Patient education: treatment for advanced prostate cancer: beyond the basics.UpToDate.
National Cancer Institute.Prostate cancer: stat facts.
