8/22/00
Although great strides have been made in understanding and treating cancer, the mere mention of the word evokes a sense of fear in many people. There are probably as many forms of cancer as there are parts of the body; some forms may occur in anyone, others are gender specific. Women’s groups have been very successful in raising the public’s awareness about female cancers such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. More recently, there has been an effort to increase the public’s knowledge of at least one type of cancer specific to males – prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting American men, with 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in males (lung cancer is first), with 100 American men dying from prostate cancer each day. In fact, approximately 1 out of every 8 American males will develop prostate cancer during their lifetimes.
But what is prostate cancer? The prostate gland is one of the male reproductive glands, located just below the bladder. Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the prostate. Although the statistics can be frightening, prostate cancer is very treatable in its early stages.
Often, prostate cancer does not have any symptoms. When they do occur, the symptoms are very similar to other conditions, such an infection, a blockage, or a noncancerous growth. The symptoms may also be affected by the size of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread. Some possible signs include the need to urinate frequently and with urgency (especially at night), difficulty urinating, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine, weak or interrupted flow of urine, or nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis.
Because early prostate cancer often does not have any symptoms, it is especially important to have regular, annual physical examinations. Most early, treatable forms of prostate cancer are detected during routine check-ups, which include a rectal exam. There is also a blood test (PSA) available, but this screening tool may give misleading results, so it is normally of the most value when used in combination with a physical exam and medical history.
If a diagnosis of prostate cancer is made, a variety of treatment options are available. The appropriate treatment will depend on the overall physical condition of the patient, how large the tumor is, and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body. Age is also a consideration, because prostate cancer is often a slow growing cancer, and may not even grow at all for up to 10 years. Some of the treatment possibilities include surgical removal of the prostate, radiation therapy, cryosurgery, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy. All forms of treatment are accompanied by side effects or possibly life changing effects, so it is important all pertinent factors are weighed when determining the appropriate course of treatment for a specific individual.
There are no known causes of prostate cancer, but it is most commonly associated with increasing age. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years. In addition to age, heredity and race also are related; African-American men are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop this type of cancer than Caucasian men. Other factors that may affect the likelihood of developing prostate cancer are the whether or not a man has had a vasectomy, the level of cadmium intake, cigarette smoking, and exposure to high levels of male hormones. Studies are being done now to study the relationship between these (and other) factors and prostate cancer.
To avoid or minimize prostate problems, particularly prostate cancer, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and to have regular checkups. Men over the age of 50 should have a digital rectal exam every year, accompanied by the PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test every year. The American Cancer Society recommends annual prostate exams begin at age 40 for individuals in the high-risk category, including African American males and those with a family history of prostate cancer. And men need to be willing to get help from their physician and discuss any problems openly at the first sign of any symptoms. For further information about prostate cancer, contact the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-Cancer or the Central Connecticut Health District at 721-2822.