Prostate Cancer At A Glance

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Signs and Symptoms

There are various signs and/or symptoms to look for in relation to prostate cancer, but, unfortunately, the victims of this disease are often too late in their discovery.  Some of these signs are as follows: (1) inability to urinate regularly; (2) a frequent need to urinate; (3) extreme pain during the urinating process; (4) a mixture of blood and urine; and (5) erectile discomfort.    

Treatment and Recovery

There are a number of treatment methods in the fight against prostate cancer, and the most notable are as follows: (1) surgery; (2) increased-monitoring; (3) radiotherapy; (4) hormone therapy; (5) chemotherapy; and (6) cryotherapy.

Surgery is the most common treatment method for men under the age of 70, whose cancer has been confined to the prostate area only.  Increased-monitoring is somewhat of a “watch and wait” game, however, because it usually applies to men in less-severe cases.  With this method, treatment is increased as the tumor spreads.  Radiotherapy is used to kill cancerous cells with radiation.  Three of the most-used forms of radiation are conformal radiotherapy (CRT), high-resolution intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and brachytherapy (sealed source radiotherapy).  Hormone therapy is used as a “wall” to prevent the spread of testosterone within the male reproductive system, which ultimately stops the spread of, but does not always kill, the invading tumor(s).  Chemotherapy employs the use of drugs to combat the cancerous cells, and cryotherapy involves the process of freezing the tumor(s).           

The recovery process ultimately depends on both the individual and the severity of the tumor, and a ‘time frame’ is rather unpredictable.  Post-treatment, whether outpatient or otherwise, is usually available at local hospitals or rehabilitation centers.         

Numbers and Facts

According to the American Cancer Society, it was estimated that as many as 186,320 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008.  It should also be noted that one-in-six men will be treated for the disease over the course of a lifetime, one-in-thirty-five will die from it and 10% of cancer-related deaths are a result of prostate cancer.  The numbers do not lie, so before you become just another statistic, do yourself a favor and get a cancer screening.  Time is of the essence and tomorrow is not a guarantee.

 

 

 

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