Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer to affect men in the United States, after skin cancer. While the disease is often slow to progress, it can eventually spread to other areas of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. Fortunately, due to its slow progression, prostate adenocarcinoma can be treated with very high chance of survival. As medicine and technology continually advance, more and more treatments are now available that not only eradicate cancer, but they can also preserve a much more normal quality of life for the patients than in previous years. However, in order to undergo early treatment, it is crucial to know the prostate cancer symptoms and signs.
The expert urologists at the Prostate Cancer Institute of Los Angeles have extensive experience diagnosing and treating varying stages of prostate carcinoma. If you or a loved one is concerned about carcinoma of the prostate, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our skilled team for comprehensive care. Contact us online or call (310) 499-2756.
How to Recognize Prostate Tumor Symptoms
When a male reproductive tumor develops, there are typically no noticeable signs in the earliest stages. Only when the prostate gland becomes enlarged or cancer begins to spread to other parts of the body will the patient begin to experience prostate cancer symptoms, such as the following:
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- Frequent need to urinate, particularly at night
- A weak or intermittent stream of urine
- Unable to urinate while standing
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Painful urination or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation
It is important to note that these symptoms are the result of an enlarged prostate, whether due to cancer or another condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is crucial to meet with an experienced urologist to accurately diagnose and treat enlarged prostate symptoms.
In cases of advanced carcinoma of the prostate, the most common prostate cancer symptoms include:
- Loss of weight and appetite
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the pelvis, lower back, upper thighs, or ribs, especially in the bones
- Stiffness in the pelvis or lower back
- Weakness or paralysis of the legs or lower body
- Constipation
If you or a loved one is living with the warning signs and symptoms of cancer, do not wait another day to schedule a consultation with our prostate specialists for prostate cancer treatment in Beverly Hills.
Treatment Options for Cancer of the Prostate
In order to treat cancer of the prostate, it is necessary to not only determine the grade and stage but to also evaluate each individual patient’s needs. With years of experience, each of our patients gets the personalized care and treatment he needs to achieve the best possible outcome.
The range of treatment options includes the following:
Active Surveillance (AS) – During the earliest stages of the disease, it may not be necessary to treat the condition, but instead take an active surveillance approach. This means carefully monitoring for signs of progression and waiting to treat the disease until it changes or begins to cause significant prostate cancer symptoms. Active surveillance is recommended in cases where it is best for the patient to not “over-treat” the disease too soon, avoiding unnecessary side effects.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) – The latest treatment option utilizes high-intensity ultrasound waves to target very specific focal point, allowing the surgeon to destroy only cancerous tissue and avoid harming healthy tissue and nerves. Also known as HIFU, this treatment is effective for both malignant and benign tumors, as well as whole gland therapy. HIFU is ideal because it minimizes the type of post-treatment side effects many patients experience after cancer procedures.
Robotic Prostatectomy (Surgery) – Traditionally, removing the entire prostate involved making a large incision across the patient’s abdomen to access the gland, damaging tissue, muscle, and nerves in the process in most cases. Now with the da Vinci surgical system, a prostatectomy can be minimally invasive, requiring only a few small incisions. The robotic arms and endoscopic camera allow the surgeon to make very precise incisions to target only the cancerous prostate tissue, and even the lymph nodes, in some cases.
TrueBeam IMRT (Radiation Therapy) – This more advanced radiation method delivers higher doses of radiation with better precision than previous systems. The accuracy and safety of this treatment ensures better outcomes and less side effects.
Brachytherapy (Local radiation therapy seeds) – This form of radiation treatment involves placing radioactive “seeds” into the prostate gland while also utilizing MRI and ultrasound information to target specific areas of the prostate. This treatment involves only one session.
Cryotherapy (“freezing”) – Using extremely cold temperatures, the cancerous tissue in the prostate is frozen in order to destroy the diseased cells. The procedure is ideal for early stages as it can be used to target very specific areas of the gland.
Hormonal Therapy – The male sex hormones androgens help control the growth and function of certain male characteristics, such as the development of the prostate gland. By suppressing this hormone in patients with cancer, it is possible to slow or block the cancer cells from progressing in the prostate.
Chemotherapy – Anti-cancer drugs can be used to slow or stop the development of cancer and may be combined with hormone therapy. This treatment is most effective in the early stages and can cause a wide range of side-effects, such as nausea, mouth sores, and fatigue.
Contact the Prostate Cancer Institute of LA
Regardless of whether you have already been diagnosed with the disease, or if you’re simply trying to prevent it, the doctors and urologists at the Prostate Cancer Institute of Los Angeles can help your fight against cancer. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
In a Nutshell: Prostate Gland Cancer Symptoms
- Most Commonly: No prostate cancer symptoms! (This is the reason for annual screening by your physician)
- Risk Factors: African-American ethnicity and family history of prostate cancer, age
- Other Symptoms: Urinary changes, sexual changes, unexplained pain in pelvis, blood in ejaculate or urine, and painful ejaculation or urination
Next, read The Most Common Prostate Biopsy Techniques