Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer Treatment & Diagnostics in Tardeo, Mumbai

Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a gland situated right below the urinary bladder in men. It resembles the shape of a walnut. The prostate gland has several key functions in the male body:

• Responsible for secreting an essential part of the male semen, the seminal fluid, which also helps in the transportation of sperms.
• Secretion of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a protein that helps semen stay in its liquid state.
• Helps control urine.

The seminal vesicles located right next to the prostate gland produce most of the fluid in your semen. Semen and urine travel in the urethra, passing through the center of the prostate glands. Abnormal growth of tissues and cells inside the prostate leads to prostate cancer. 

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth of polyps and malignant tumors through the aggressive divisions of cells inside the prostate gland. In most cases, the cells are not aggressive enough to spread to other parts of the body. However, in severe cases, cancer can spread and cause damage to other parts of the body as well.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. While 1 out of 9 men are susceptible to suffer from it, 1 out of 41 would probably die of it. 

To seek treatment, you can visit any of the urology hospitals in Mumbai. Or you can search online for a urology doctor near me.

What are the types of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancers can be of several types:

• Adenocarcinomas
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Transitional cell carcinomas
• Sarcomas
• Small cell carcinomas

Though almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas.

Depending on their nature and speed of growth, prostate cancers can be:

• Fast-growing or aggressive, where the tumor grows quickly and cancer cells start rapidly spreading to other parts of the body.
• Slow-growing or non-aggressive, where the tumor size is small and doesn’t grow too quickly. 

What are the stages of prostate cancer?

Determining what stage of cancer you are in can help your doctor recommend the appropriate line of treatment. The earlier the detection the better are your chances of recovery.

Stage 0- Precancerous:

The cancer is at a precancerous stage, where only a small portion is affected and the cancer is slowly growing. 

Stage 1 - Localized:

The cancer is present and growing inside the prostate gland.

Stage 2 - Regional:

The cancer cells have started spreading to the nearby tissues.

Stage 3 - Distant:

Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, maybe lungs, bones, etc. 

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

These include:

• Blood in your urine
• Difficulty in passing urine 
• Blood in your semen
• Reduction in the force of your urine
• Bone pain
• Pain during ejaculation
• Unexpected weight loss
• Erectile dysfunction

When your prostate cancer progresses to an advanced stage, you may observe the following symptoms:

• Pain or fracture in your bones, especially around the thighs, hips or shoulders
• Edema or swelling in your legs and feet
• Extreme fatigue
• Changes in bowel habits
• Back pain

When should you see a doctor?

If you notice any of the above signs and symptoms persistently, you should consult your doctor. 

You can request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Tardeo, Mumbai. 

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Your doctor will:

• Enquire about the symptoms you’re experiencing
• Check your medical records and family medical history
• Check your PSA levels via blood tests
• Ask for a urine test
• Conduct a physical examination to check for any abnormalities in your rectal area due to prostate cancer

If the doctor suspects the presence of cancer, he or she will ask for further confirmatory tests:

• PCA3 test to check for the PCA3 gene in your urine
• A transrectal ultrasound, where a camera is inserted into your rectum to probe your prostate health
• A biopsy, where a sample tissue is taken to the laboratory for a microscopic inspection.

What are the risk factors?

Cancers of any kind can result from several natural or environmental causes as well as lifestyle choices in some cases:

• The risk of prostate cancer is far higher in men above the age of 50 years. 
• If someone in your family has already suffered from it, you may get it too. 
• Genetic abnormalities like men born with the Lynch Syndrome are prone to prostate and other cancers.

Lifestyle choices that can increase your chances of prostate cancer include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Vasectomy
• Diet

How is prostate cancer detected?

Treatment options for prostate cancer are similar to most types of cancer. These include:

• Surgery
• Cryotherapy
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Immunotherapy
• Prostatectomy

Conclusion

Watch out for the symptoms of prostate cancer and consult your doctor at the earliest. There are several treatment options. Try to go for lifestyle modifications to prevent development of cancer.