| Prostate cancer is a condition which afflicts men. The | | | | PSA, a protein created by the prostate. Levels |
| cancer develops and spreads within the prostate | | | | beneath 4ng/mL are normal, and those above 10ng |
| gland. This gland is located around the neck of the | | | | mL are high. During a Digital Rectal Exam, the doctor |
| bladder, and is responsible for the production and | | | | evaluates the condition of the prostate, and checks |
| release of seminal fluid, the thick gel which carries the | | | | for abnormalities with size, shape, or texture, by |
| sperm to the uterus of the female. As is the case | | | | inserting a gloved and lubricated finger in the patient's |
| with most types of cancers, prostate cancer is easier | | | | rectum. These two procedures usually complement |
| to treat during the early stages; in advanced stages | | | | each other in providing credible detection of an onset |
| the chances for adverse effects due to surgery or | | | | of prostate cancer. |
| other drastic treatments may be more detrimental to | | | | Detection, diagnosis and treatment for prostate |
| the health of the patient than the illness itself. | | | | cancer need a joint effort from urologists, radiation |
| One out of six men is expected to be diagnosed | | | | oncologists, and medical oncologists; the latter two |
| with the disease within his lifetime, with a mortality | | | | are made after the PSA and DRE methods have |
| rate of one out of thirty-four. This is a condition | | | | shown the presence of the disease. The usual |
| which usually afflicts middle-aged males; those who | | | | diagnostical test employed is the biopsy, wherein |
| are below 40 years of age are rarely diagnosed with | | | | relatively small samples of tissue are taken from the |
| prostate cancer. The factors which contribute to the | | | | prostate for examination, usually with the help of |
| possibility of acquiring the disease include age, race, | | | | ultrasound imaging; this procedure is quite discomfiting |
| family history, diet and nutrition, and obesity. | | | | or painful, but is relatively short in duration. The |
| Symptoms during the early stages are practically | | | | condition of the disease is determined through an |
| non-existent; as the cancer spreads, the following | | | | evaluation system known as the Gleason Grading and |
| indications are observed: frequent urination, | | | | Scoring system. |
| particularly at night, although the male has difficulty in | | | | Treatments for prostate cancer vary, and are |
| controlling urine flow; the urine stream is weak or | | | | basically dependent on several factors: the stage of |
| constantly interrupted; urinating provides a painful and | | | | the disease, the physiological profile of the patient, |
| burning sensation; erectile dysfunction and painful | | | | and his willingness to undergo a specific treatment. A |
| ejaculation; the presence of blood in the urine or | | | | quick run-through of available treatments includes |
| semen; and persistent pain and stiffness in the upper | | | | active surveillance, radiation therapy (for advanced or |
| thighs, the lower back, and the hips. | | | | recurring stages), prostatectomy or surgery, |
| Tests for detecting the presence of the disease | | | | hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. This is not an |
| include the Prostate-specific Antigen Blood test | | | | exhaustive list of all available options, as there are |
| (PSA), and Digital Rectal Exams (DRE). During the | | | | current alternatives which still need to be |
| course of a PSA test, a blood sample is taken from | | | | clinically-approved as efficient treatments for the |
| the patient's arm, in order to determine the levels of | | | | disease. |