| Nearly a quarter of a million men in the United States | | | | In addition, symptoms similar to those seen in |
| alone will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and for | | | | prostate cancer can also be experienced as the result |
| many this will generate a host of questions. Here we | | | | of a prostate infection known as prostatitis which |
| look at the 10 most commonly asked prostate | | | | causes inflammation of the prostate. |
| cancer questions. | | | | Question 6. Is it possible to screen for prostate |
| For the millions of men who encounter prostate | | | | cancer before symptoms appear? |
| problems each year and, in particular those who are | | | | There are currently two commonly performed tests |
| diagnosed with prostate cancer, we have picked out | | | | which are carried out to detect the presence of |
| ten of the most frequently asked questions about | | | | prostate cancer. Although neither test is in itself a |
| the prostate and prostate cancer. | | | | definitive test for prostate cancer, both tests can |
| Question 1. What is the prostate gland? | | | | indicate problems developing with the prostate gland |
| The prostate gland, which when healthy is about the | | | | and thus indicate the need for more specific testing. |
| size of a walnut, lies between the rectum and the | | | | The two tests currently used to detect the possible |
| bladder and forms part of the male reproductive | | | | presence of prostate cancer are the digital rectal |
| system, making and storing a fluid contained within | | | | exam (DRE), in which a doctor feels the prostate |
| semen. The prostate gland partially surrounds the | | | | through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas, and |
| urethra and, when it becomes enlarged, it can slow | | | | a blood test used to detect a substance made by |
| or even stop the flow of urine. | | | | the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA). |
| Question 2. What is prostate cancer? | | | | Question 7. How reliable are the present screening |
| Prostate cancer is the second commonest form of | | | | tests? |
| cancer in the United States today. In 2006 | | | | Neither the digital rectal exam nor the PSA blood test |
| approximately 235,000 men in the US were | | | | are perfect and the DRE can easily miss prostate |
| diagnosed with prostate cancer and some 27,000 | | | | cancers while it is also possible for men with prostate |
| men died of the disease. In most cases prostate | | | | cancer to show normal levels of PSA in the blood. |
| cancer appears relatively late in life and is slow | | | | The two tests used together do produce reasonable |
| growing and, for this reason, many men with | | | | results and are certainly better than not screening for |
| prostate cancer die from other unrelated causes. | | | | the condition at all, but more accurate screening is |
| Question 3. Who is at risk of contracting prostate | | | | required and studies are underway to improve |
| cancer? | | | | screening in the next few years. |
| The simple answer is that all men are at risk of | | | | Question 8. How is prostate cancer diagnosed? |
| contracting prostate cancer. This said, prostate | | | | The only sure way to confirm the presence of |
| cancer is age related and so it is more likely to | | | | prostate cancer is to carry out a prostate biopsy |
| appear the older you get. In addition, prostate cancer | | | | during which a number of small samples of tissue are |
| is more likely to appear in men with a family history | | | | taken from various parts of the prostate gland for |
| of the disease and in black men. There are also quite | | | | microscopic laboratory examination. |
| marked differences seen between countries with the | | | | Question 9. How is prostate cancer treated? |
| United States having the highest incidence and Japan | | | | Provided the cancer is localized (confined to the |
| the lowest. While these differences are not entirely | | | | prostate gland) there are currently three main forms |
| understood it is believed that diet may play an | | | | of treatment available. |
| important role. | | | | The first is simply to watch and wait. This may seem |
| Question 4. What are the symptoms of prostate | | | | a strange form of treatment but in older patients |
| cancer? | | | | who may have other serious medical problems it may |
| It is possible to suffer from prostate cancer for | | | | be best to simply leave prostate cancer untreated as |
| many years without displaying any symptoms at all. | | | | long as it remains confined to the prostate gland. |
| However when symptoms do appear they are likely | | | | The second form of treatment is radiation therapy |
| to include the need for frequent urination (particularly | | | | to kill the cancer cells delivered either using traditional |
| during the night), difficulty in urinating, a weak flow or | | | | radiotherapy techniques on an outpatient basis, or by |
| urine which tends to stop and start, pain when | | | | implanting radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. |
| urinating, blood in the urine or semen, painful | | | | Finally, prostate cancer can be treated by simply |
| ejaculation and frequent pain in the lower back as | | | | removing the prostate gland surgically. |
| well as in the hips or upper part of the thighs. | | | | Question 10. What is the best treatment for localized |
| It is important to note that while these can indicate | | | | prostate cancer? |
| the presence of prostate cancer they can also be | | | | There are a large number of factors which need to |
| symptomatic of a number of other conditions and | | | | be taken into consideration before deciding upon the |
| you should check with your doctor and not simply | | | | treatment that is right for you and the options need |
| assume that because you are experiencing these | | | | to be carefully considered and discussed with both |
| symptoms that you have prostate cancer. | | | | your family and your doctor. |
| Question 5. What other conditions are associated | | | | In most cases prostate cancer is slow to develop |
| with prostate cancer symptoms? | | | | and there is rarely any need to rush into treatment. |
| It is very common in older men for the prostate | | | | Take your time, collect as much information as you |
| gland to enlarge placing pressure on both the bladder | | | | can about the disease and the options for treatment |
| and the urethra and interfering with both the flow of | | | | and make your decision based upon the information |
| urine and with sexual function. This condition is not | | | | you have, the advice you are given and your own |
| cancer but is a benign condition known as benign | | | | personal feelings on the matter. |
| prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. | | | | |