Hearing the phrase, “it’s prostate cancer” is enough to send chills down any man’s spine. Fortunately, however, prostate cancer is not a diagnosis that guarantees a negative outcome, although it does usually cause shock and dismay.
Due to the latest advances in cancer diagnostics and treatment options, finding out that you have prostate cancer in the early stages can mean a complete recovery and sustained quality of life once the appropriate treatment plan is developed and implemented.
To commemorate September as Prostate Cancer Month, the expert urologists at the Prostate Cancer Institute of Los Angeles want to make sure that you’re aware of the basics of the disease and its treatment options. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer – or even if you suspect that you have it – we’ll help prepare you for the next steps.
Risk Factors Associated with Prostate Cancer
There are several risk factors associated with cancer of the prostate, including the following:
- Age – This is the biggest risk factor of all, and the chances of developing cancer start rising once a man reaches 50
- Ethnicity/Race – Though all men are at risk for prostate cancer, African-Americans have an incidence rate that is higher than both whites and Asian-Americans.
- Geography – North American, European, Australian, and Caribbean men are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than men from other areas of the world (most likely due to diet)
- Family History – If your father, brother, grandfather, or uncle has ever been diagnosed with the disease, your chances of having it are greatly increased
- Changes in the Gland Itself – This particularly applies to gene mutations or the presence of PIN cells (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia cells)
- Diet – Evidence shows that men are a higher risk if their diet consists of dairy and/or red meat.
Although it’s good to keep the above in mind, it’s also important to remember that you’re not guaranteed to have cancer if you suffer from one or more of the aforementioned risk factors. Despite this, you’re not necessarily in the clear if you have NONE of the known risk factors, either, which is why prostate cancer screenings are critical.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers and is the second deadliest cancer for American men. Since cancer of the prostate grows slowly, men who succumb to the disease usually do so because of a late or inaccurate diagnosis and/or improper treatment.
The prostate gland is crucial to your reproductive and urinary system, as it regulates the bladder and contributes to the health and mobility of sperm. As a result, most symptoms are connected to urinary or sexual habit changes.
However, the symptoms of this disease can be confusing, as they’re inconsistent from man to man; some men with the disease never have symptoms while others who don’t have the disease can have symptoms, though they could simply be due to normal body functions.
Here are 4 crucial symptoms:
Urinary Changes – These include difficulty holding urine in, difficulty starting to urinate, weak flow of urine, and pain or burning while urinating
Sexual Changes – These include erection issues, bloody semen, or pain during ejaculation
Unusual Swelling or Numbness – This refers more to numbness or swelling in the pelvis, hips, or legs, not to the penis or testicles, in particular
Unexpected Pain or Stiffness – This includes such issues in your lower back, hips, legs, and even bones
Don’t disregard these symptoms, especially if they persist. See a board-certified specialist as soon as possible, because early detection is the key between succumbing to the disease and surviving it.
If you are diagnosed with cance, don’t be afraid to seek a second or even third opinion so that you’re sure that you weren’t misdiagnosed, as over- or undertreatment can be detrimental to your survival efforts. Furthermore, location, seriousness, and level of metastasis (spread) are also important when determining the appropriate treatment plan.
Effective Treatment Options
After your doctor has ascertained your overall health in addition to the size of the tumor, its aggression level, and its degree of spread, the best prostate cancer treatment plan can be determined and implemented.
If treatment for the whole gland is deemed necessary, several options are available:
Surgery – Surgical options include laparoscopy, robotic prostatectomy, and open surgery
Radiation therapy – These treatments include external beam radiation treatment (IMRT) and internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
Cryotherapy – Cryotherapy involves super-cooling the gland until the tumor is destroyed
Although the above whole gland treatments have track records of success, they carry risks of side effects and complications, such as erectile or urinary dysfunction. On the other hand, if localized prostate cancer treatment is deemed sufficient, there are several other options available:
Active surveillance – Active surveillance is not treatment, but simply active, regular monitoring of the tumor
HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) – HIFU is a safe, precise cancer treatment that utilizes ultrasound technology.
MRI Fusion Therapies:
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, we urge you to live a healthy lifestyle. For example, exercise regularly – even walking for 20 minutes at least 3-4 times weekly – to keep fit. Walking helps lower stress and reduces the risk of a faster progression (if you’re dealing with the disease).
Also, consume a nutritious diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, fiber, low-fat foods, and nuts. This is believed to slow the growth of tumors. Learn more about healthy diet options for patients with prostate cancer at WebMD.com.
Learn More from the Specialists
Cancer of the prostate is beatable, and the specialists at the Prostate Cancer Institute of Los Angeles offer the latest in prostate cancer treatment designed for you to beat it. Schedule a consultation by contacting us online or calling our Beverly Hills office today.