Did you know that the prostate gland’s primary function is to secrete a slightly alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid, a fluid that carries sperm?
Did you know that during male climax (orgasm), the muscular glands of the prostate help to propel the prostate fluid, in addition to sperm that was produced in the testicles, into the urethra. The semen then leaves the body out through the tip of the penis during ejaculation?
Did you know that Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from
cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75?
Did you know that Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40?
Did you know that these people are at higher risk?
- African-American men, who are also likely to develop cancer at every age
- Men who are older than 60
- Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer
- Men exposed to agent orange exposure
- Men who abuse alcohol
- Farmers
- Men who eat a diet high in fat, especially animal fat
- Tire plant workers
- Painters
- Men who have been exposed to cadmium
Did you know the lowest number of cases occurs in Japanese men living in Japan (this benefit is lost after one generation of living in the U.S.) and those who do not eat meat (vegetarians)?
Did you know that a common problem in almost all men as they grow older is an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)?
Did you know that enlarged prostate problem does not raise your risk of prostate cancer?
Did you know that the PSA blood test is often done to screen men for prostate cancer?
Did you know because of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms?
Did you know that these symptoms listed below can occur with prostate cancer, (Most of the time these symptoms are caused by other prostate problems that are not cancer)?
- Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream
- Dribbling or leakage of urine, most often after urinating
- Slow urinary stream
- Straining when urinating, or not being able to empty out all of the urine
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Bone pain or tenderness, most often in the lower back and pelvic bones (only when the cancer has spread).
Did you know that a Prostate biopsy is the only test that can confirm the diagnosis if it is cancer?
Did you know that tissue from the prostate is viewed underneath a microscope?
Did you know that biopsy results are reported using something called a Gleason grade and a Gleason score?
Did you know that the Gleason grade is how aggressive the prostate cancer might be?
Did you know that the Gleason grades tumors on a scale of 1 - 5, based on how different from normal tissue the cells are?
Did you know that more than one Gleason grade is present within the same tissue sample?
Did you know that the higher the Gleason score, the more likely the cancer is to have spread beyond the prostate gland?
- Scores 2 - 4: Low-grade cancer
- Scores 5 - 7: Intermediate- (or in the middle-) grade cancer. Most prostate cancers fall into this category.
- Scores 8 - 10: High-grade cancer (poorly-differentiated cells)
There are two reasons your doctor may perform a prostate biopsy:
- Your PSA blood test is high. See also: PSA
- A rectal exam may show a large prostate or a hard, irregular surface. Because of PSA testing, prostate cancer is diagnosed during a rectal exam much less often.
Did you know that the PSA blood test will also be used to monitor your cancer after treatment?
Did you know that a abnormal digital rectal exam may be the only sign of prostate cancer (even if the PSA is normal)?
Did you know that these tests may be done to determine whether the cancer has spread?
Did you know that the best treatment for your prostate cancer may not always be clear?
Did you know that surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with sexual desire or performance?
Did you know that Problems with urine control are common after surgery and radiation therapy?
Did you know that surgery is usually only recommended after a thorough evaluation and discussion of the benefits and risks of the procedure?
Surgery to remove the prostate and some of the tissue around it is an option when the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland. This surgery is called radical prostatectomy. It can also be done with robotic surgery.- Possible problems after the surgeries include difficulty controlling urine or bowel movements and erection problems.
Did you know that Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells?
Radiation therapy works best to treat prostate cancer that has not spread outside of the prostate. It may also be used after surgery, if there is a risk that prostate cancer cells may still be present. Radiation is sometimes used for pain relief when cancer has spread to the bone.
External beam radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays pointed at the prostate gland.
- It is done in a radiation oncology center usually connected to a hospital. You will come to the center from home 5 days a week for the treatments. The therapy lasts for 6 -8 weeks.
- Before treatment, a therapist will mark the part of the body that is to be treated with a special pen.
- The radiation is delivered to the prostate gland using a device that looks like a normal x-ray machine. The treatment itself is generally painless.
- Side effects may include impotence, incontinence, appetite loss, fatigue, skin reactions, rectal burning or injury, diarrhea, bladder urgency, and blood in urine.
Prostate brachytherapy involves placing radioactive seeds inside the prostate gland.
- A surgeon inserts small needles through the skin behind your scrotum to inject the seeds. The seeds are so small that you don't feel them. They can be temporary or permanent.
- Brachytherapy is often used for men with smaller prostate cancer that is found early and is slow-growing.
- It also may be given with external beam radiation therapy for some patients with more advanced cancer.
- Side effects may include pain, swelling or bruising in your penis or scrotum, red-brown urine or semen, impotence, incontinence, and diarrhea.
Did you know that Proton therapy is another kind of radiation used to treat prostate cancer?
Did you know that doctors aim proton beams at a tumor, so there is less damage to the surrounding tissue?
Did you know that Testosterone is the body's main male hormone?
Did you know that Prostate tumors need testosterone to grow?
Did you know that Hormonal therapy is any treatment that decreases the effect of testosterone on prostate cancer?
Did you know that Hormonal therapy treatments can prevent further growth and spread of cancer?
Did you know that Hormone therapy is mainly used in men whose cancer has spread to help relieve symptoms?
Did you know that there are two types of drugs used for hormone therapy?
Did you know that the primary type is called a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones (LH-RH) agonist?
- These medicines block the body from making testosterone. The drugs must be given by injection, usually every 3 - 6 months.
- They include leuprolide, goserelin, nafarelin, triptorelin, histrelin, buserelin, and degarelix.
- Possible side effects include nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, anemia, lethargy, osteoporosis, reduced sexual desire, decreased muscle mass, weight gain, and impotence.
The other medications used are called androgen-blocking drugs.
- They are often given along with the above drugs.
- They include flutamide, bicalutamide, and nilutamide.
- Possible side effects include erectile dysfunction, loss of sexual desire, liver problems, diarrhea, and enlarged breasts.
Did you know that Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are used to treat prostate cancers that no longer respond to hormone treatment?
Did you know that an oncology specialist will usually recommend a single drug or a combination of drugs?
Did you know that after treatment for prostate cancer, you will be closely watched to make sure the cancer does not spread?
Did you know that this involves routine doctor check-ups, including serial PSA blood tests (usually every 3 months to 1 year)?
Did you know that many patients with prostate cancer that has not spread can be cured, as well as some patients whose cancer has not spread very much outside the prostate gland?
Did you know that patients who cannot be cured, hormone treatment can extend their life by many years?
Did you know that complications of prostate cancer are mostly due to different treatments?
Did you know that following a vegetarian, low-fat diet or one that is similar to the traditional Japanese diet may lower your risk for prostate cancer?
Did you know that eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids also help fight prostate cancer?.
