How Is Prostate Cancer Detected And Treated

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7:24
Erectile Dysfunction, Sexual Health
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Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and is known to afflict over 330,000 men each year in the United States alone. Research tells us that the tendency to develop this type of cancer increases with age and over 80% of men diagnosed with this disease are above the age group of 65 years. The main risk factors for prostate cancer are age, heredity, ethnicity, dietary fat and lifestyle.

Tests for detecting Prostate Cancer:
Early detection is the best means by which prostate cancer can be controlled. The following methods are used for detection of prostate cancer:

Rectal Examination: Maximum cases of prostate cancer are detected by this method during routine physical check-ups. In a rectal examination the physician feels the prostate gland through the rectum.

This enables the doctor to find out the presence of any lumps or if the gland is enlarged. This is also one of the quickest and most inexpensive methods of detecting prostate cancer.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA): This is a blood test that is used to measure the quantity of PSA in the patient’s blood. An increase in the level of PSA can indicate prostate cancer. Even a single PSA test can help detect the early stages of prostate cancer as well as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), a condition marked by the enlargement of the prostate gland.

Ultrasound: A PSA test is often followed up with an ultrasound that helps detect those lumps that cannot be felt during a rectal examination. Ultrasound also helps find out the size, shape and features of those lumps.

Biopsy: A needle biopsy is often performed on doubtful lumps to determine whether they are cancerous or benign. The samples extracted are examined under a microscope. This is a relatively painless process but might cause discomfort to the patient for a day or two.

Treatment for prostate cancer:
There are various treatment options available that help get rid of prostate cancer. These include:

Radical surgery: Malignant tumors are removed by this process also known as radical ctomy. It has an excellent cure rate but may result in sexual dysfunction and incontinence.

Radiation: This form of treatment makes use of radioactive seeds that are surgically positioned in the malignant tumor. The patient recovers within a few days and this procedure carries negligible risk of impotence or incontinence.

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One Comment on “How Is Prostate Cancer Detected And Treated”

HIFU wrote on 17 November, 2009, 20:57
Pca effects approximately 1 out of 5 males. We just passed prostate cancer awareness month but that shouldn’t stop everyone over 40 from getting check out.