Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled (malignant) proliferation of cells in the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found right below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that takes urine out of the bladder. The prostate creates and retains fluid that aids in the production of sperm.
Apart from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequent type of cancer detected in males in the United States, and it often develops without symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 248,530 new cases of prostate cancer and 34,130 deaths from prostate cancer.
Because prostate cancer is slow-growing cancer, many men die of other ailments before it causes substantial issues. Many prostate cancers, on the other hand, are more aggressive and can spread outside of the prostate gland, which can be fatal. Prostate cancer survival rates have increased dramatically as a result of early detection and individualized treatment.
How do you know if you have prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer, in the vast majority of cases, is asymptomatic.
When men have advanced prostate cancer, they may suffer certain symptoms in rare circumstances. These symptoms, however, are also present in many men who do not have cancer, so it’s advisable to talk to a doctor about them before drawing any conclusions. Difficulty emptying the bladder, blood in the urine, and bone pains are all possible signs.
What causes prostate cancer?
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown.
What are the Risk factors for prostate cancer?
Anything that raises a person’s chances of acquiring cancer is referred to as a risk factor. Although risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing cancer, the majority of them do not cause cancer directly or indirectly.
Some people who have some established risk factors never get cancer, whereas others who have none do. Knowing your risk factors and discussing them with your doctor may assist you in making better lifestyle and health-care decisions.
A man’s risk of developing prostate cancer may be increased by the following factors:
1. Age.
Prostate cancer risk rises with age, especially beyond the age of 50. Prostate cancer is diagnosed in approximately 60% of men aged 65 and up. Prostate cancer patients in their later years may confront distinct problems, particularly in terms of therapy.
2. Race.
Prostate cancer is diagnosed more frequently in black men and other men of African ancestry in the United States than in men of other races. Prostate cancer is more common in black men than in white men.
The most common locations for prostate cancer are North America and northern Europe. Prostate cancer appears to be on the rise among Asians living in urbanized surroundings, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and North American and European cities, particularly among individuals who live sedentary lifestyles and eat unhealthy foods.
3. Family History.
Familial prostate cancer, or prostate cancer that runs in families, accounts for around 20% of all prostate cancers. A combination of shared genes and shared environmental or lifestyle variables causes this form of prostate cancer to emerge.
Hereditary prostate cancer, which is caused by inheriting a risk from a family member, is uncommon, accounting for just approximately 5% of all occurrences. Hereditary prostate cancer develops when variations in genes, or mutations, are passed down from one generation to the next within a family.
If a family history includes any of the following traits, hereditary prostate cancer may be suspected:
- Prostate cancer in three or more first-degree relatives
- Prostate cancer has been passed down through three generations on the same side of the family.
- 2 or more close relatives on the same side of the family, such as a parent, sibling, child, grandparent, uncle, or nephew, diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 55
A person’s chance of acquiring prostate cancer is 2 to 3 times higher if they have a first-degree family with prostate cancer, such as a parent, sibling, or kid. The number of relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer raises this risk even further.
4. Hereditary Breast Cancer and Ovarian cancer
HBOC syndrome is a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. HBOC is linked to BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 gene DNA-repair mutations in the germline or hereditary form. The acronym BRCA stands for “BReast CAncer.” In women, HBOC is most typically linked to an elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Men with HBOC, on the other hand, are more likely to develop breast cancer and a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Only a small fraction of inherited prostate cancers are known to be caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
Those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations should consider prostate cancer screening at a younger age. Only families with both prostate cancer and HBOC might benefit from genetic testing. Please consult a genetic counsellor or a doctor if you have any concerns about this based on your own family history.
5. Other genetic alterations.
HPC1, HPC2, HPCX, CAPB, ATM, FANCA, HOXB13, and mismatch repair genes are among the genes linked to an elevated risk of prostate cancer. None of these, however, has been proven to cause prostate cancer or to be specific to this illness.
Researchers are continually learning more about how specific genetic variations can influence the development of prostate cancer as part of their ongoing research to uncover genes linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. There are currently no genetic tests that can be used to determine a person’s risk of acquiring prostate cancer.
6. Agent Orange poisoning.
Prostate cancer is listed as a disease linked to exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used during the Vietnam War, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
If you are a veteran who believes you may have been exposed to Agent Orange, please contact your VA doctor. On the website of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, you can learn more about the Agent Orange connection.
7. Eating Habits
There has been no conclusive evidence that diet and nutrition can cause or prevent prostate cancer. Much research that looks at the association between certain eating habits and cancer implies that there is one. Obesity, for example, is linked to a variety of diseases, including prostate cancer, and a balanced diet is recommended to avoid weight gain.
How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
Prostate cancer screening is used to detect the presence of cancer in otherwise healthy adults. Prostate cancer is usually detected using two tests:
1.Rectal examination with a digital camera (DRE).
A doctor does a DRE by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and feeling the surface of the prostate through the intestinal wall for any anomalies.
2.PSA Blood Test
PSA is a blood test that detects prostate cancer. The use of the PSA test to check for prostate cancer in patients who have no symptoms is controversial. On the one hand, the PSA test is useful for diagnosing early-stage prostate cancer, particularly in those with several risk factors, which allows some people to receive treatment before the cancer progresses and spreads.
PSA screening, on the other hand, may detect slow-growing prostate tumors that pose no threat to a person’s life. As a result, PSA screening for prostate cancer may result in unnecessary therapies, which can induce adverse effects and hurt a person’s quality of life.
PSA screening is not recommended for persons who have no signs of prostate cancer and are anticipated to live less than ten years, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). ASCO suggests that people who expect to live longer than 10 years speak with their doctor to see if the test is right for them.
Other organizations have various screening recommendations:
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults between 55 and 69 should discuss the pros and cons of PSA screening with their doctor before deciding about screening. PSA testing for prostate cancer should not be done on people above the age of 70.
Both the American Urological Association and the American Cancer Society recommend that people be told the risks and benefits of testing before PSA screening occurs and then make an informed decision in consultation with their doctor.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) bases its recommendations on a patient’s age, PSA value, DRE results, and other factors.
It is not easy to predict which tumors will grow and spread quickly and which will grow slowly. Everyone should discuss with their doctor the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening based on their situation and personal risk of prostate cancer, so they can work together to make an informed decision.
What is a PSA Blood Test?
The PSA test is a blood test that determines the amount of a certain protein in your blood (called a prostate-specific antigen). For the past 30 years, it has been the gold standard for prostate cancer screening.
Before recommending when to begin prostate cancer screening, your doctor will consider several variables. But he’ll almost certainly start with the PSA test.
Ages 40 to 54: Prostate Cancer Screening
While the typical recommendation is to begin screening at the age of 55, you may require PSA testing between the ages of 40 and 54 if you:
- Have at least one first-degree relative with prostate cancer (such as your father or brother)?
- Have at least two members of your extended family who have experienced prostate cancer?
- If you are African-American, a race with a higher chance of acquiring more aggressive tumors?
Ages 55 to 69: Prostate Cancer Screening
This is the age group in which men will reap the greatest benefits from screening. this is because this is the age when:
- Cancer is most common in men.
- The advantages of therapy outweigh the risk of treatment side effects, treatment makes the most sense.
If a man lives long enough, he will develop prostate cancer. Some prostate cancers are more aggressive than others, while others grow more slowly. Before considering the risks and advantages of treatment, doctors will examine your age and other considerations.
Inquire with your doctor about how frequently he or she advises you to get checked. Most males only need to be shaved every two to three years.
Your doctor may recommend that you get checked less (or more) frequently depending on the findings of your first PSA test.
What is the PSA scale for prostate cancer?
When assessing what your PSA score indicates, doctors will take into account your age and the size of your prostate. Generally speaking:
A PSA level of over 2.5 ng/ml is deemed abnormal in males in their 40s and 50s. For this age group, the median PSA is 0.6 to 0.7 ng/ml.
A PSA level of over 4.0 ng/ml is deemed abnormal in men in their 60s. Between 1.0 and 1.5 ng/ml is considered typical.
An unusual increase: A PSA score that rises a particular amount in a single year may also be considered abnormal. If your score increases by more than 0.35 ng/ml in a year, your doctor may suggest additional testing.
What Happens If Your PSA Test Is Abnormal?
If your PSA test results are abnormal, your doctor may advise you to repeat the test. If your levels remain high, your doctor may suggest one of the more recent prostate cancer screening tests.
These tests can help you better understand your prostate cancer risk and whether or not a biopsy is required. Prostate cancer can only be diagnosed definitively through a prostate biopsy.
Inquire with your doctor about the following topics for personalized recommendations that are right for you:
When should you start screening for prostate cancer?
There are new blood, urine, and imaging tests available. If applicable, improved biopsy procedures can be conducted.
Like with all types of cancer, prevention is always paramount. You mustn’t wait to be symptomatic before taking a test. One of the ways you can take charge of your health and get an indication if you might have signs of prostate cancer is a simple blood test.
