Prostate Cancer

DEFINITIONS

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the prostate gland.
Prostate cancer is very common.Microscopic examination of prostate tissue after surgery or at autopsy showed cancer in 50% of men aged over 70 years and in all men aged over 90 years.Most cancers do not cause symptoms because of its spread is very slow.


 
CAUSEThe cause is unknown, although several studies have shown a link between high fat diets and increased levels of testosterone.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and number three is the leading cause of cancer kematin in men over 74 years.Prostate cancer is rarely found in men aged less than 40 years.
Men who are at higher risk for prostate cancer is a black man aged over 60 years, farmer, painter and cadmium exposure.The lowest incidence was found in Japanese men and vegetarians. 

Cancer Prostate grouped into:
Stage A: The lump / tumor can not be palpated on physical examination, usually discovered by accident after prostate surgery because of other diseases.Stadium  B: tumor confined to the prostate and usually found on physical examination or PSA test.Stage C: tumor has spread beyond the prostate capsule, but not yet spread to the lymph nodes.Stage D: Cancer has spread (metastases) to the regional lymph nodes or other body parts (eg bones and lungs). 

SYMPTOMSProstate cancer usually develops slowly and causes no symptoms until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.
Sometimes the symptoms resemble BPH, namely in the form of difficulty in urination and frequent urination.Symptoms are due to cancer causing partial blockage in the flow of urine through the urethra.
Prostate cancer can cause red urine (because it contains blood) or urine caused the sudden arrest.
In some cases, a new prostate cancer diagnosed after spreading to the bones (especially the pelvic bones, ribs and spine) or to the kidneys (causing kidney failure).Painful bone cancer and brittle bones become so easy to experience a fracture (broken bone).
When cancer spreads, it is usually the patient will experience anemia.Prostate cancer can also spread to the brain and cause seizures and other neurological symptoms or mental. 

Other symptoms are: 
-Immediately after urination, the urine is usually still dripping-Pain when urinating-Pain when ejaculating-Lower back pain- Pain when defecating- Nocturia (urination at night)-Incontinence uri (beser)- Pain bones or bone pains when pressed- Haematuria (blood in urine)- Abdominal pain- Weight loss. 



 
DIAGNOSISThe best way to screen for prostate cancer are digital rectal examination and blood tests.Digital rectal prostate cancer patients will show the existence of hard lumps of irregular shape.On examination the blood was measured levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is usually elevated in patients with prostate cancer, but can also be increased (not too high) in patients with BPH.
If the digital rectal examination found a lump, then conducted an ultrasound examination.By performing x-rays or skening bones, could show us the spread of cancer to bone.
- Other checks are wont to do: An analysis of urine- Cytology urine or prostatic fluid- A biopsy of the prostate. 

TREATMENTAppropriate treatment for prostate cancer is still debated.- Treatment options vary, depending on the stage: In the early stages can be used prostatectomy (removal of prostate) and radiation therapy- If the cancer has spread, hormonal manipulation can be done (reduce testosterone levels through the removal of drugs or testes) or chemotherapy. 

Surgery

   1. Radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate gland).
      Often performed on stage cancer A and B.
      The procedure is long and is usually performed under general anesthesia or spinal.
      An incision is made on the abdomen or perineal area, and the patient had to undergo hospital treatment  
       for 5-7 harai.
      Complications that may occur is impotensia and incontinence uri.
      In patients who are still active sex life, can be done-sparing radical prostatectomy Potency.

   2. Orkiektomi (removal of the testes, castration). Appointment of two testes have decreased testosterone 
    levels, but this procedure causes physical and psychological effects that can not be tolerated by the 
    patients.
      Orkiektomi is an effective treatment, does not require re-treatment, compared to cheaper drugs and after 
    undergoing orkiektomi patients do not need to undergo hospital treatment.
      Orkiektomi usually done on the cancer that has spread. 

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is primarily used to treat cancer of A, B and C.Usually if the risk of surgery is too high, then do radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy to the prostate gland can be done in several ways:

   1. External radiation therapy, performed in a hospital without the need to undergo hospitalization.
      Side effects such as decreased appetite, fatigue, skin reactions (such as redness and irritation), injury or burns to the rectum, diarrhea, cystitis (bladder infection) and hematuria.
      External radiation therapy is usually done as much as five times / week for 6-8 weeks.

   2. Transplant iodine beads, gold or a radioactive iridium directly on prostate tissue via small incisions.
      The advantages of these forms of radiation therapy is that radiation is directed directly to the prostate with tissue damage in the surrounding smaller. 

Drugs

   1. Hormonal manipulation.
      The goal is to reduce testosterone levels.
      Decrease in testosterone levels are often very effective in preventing the growth and spread of cancer.
      Hormonal manipulation is mainly used to alleviate symptoms without curing the cancer, ie for example in patients with a cancer has spread.

      Synthetic drugs whose function resembles LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone), the more commonly used to treat advanced prostate cancer. An example is the lupron or zoladeks.
      These drugs suppress the formation of stimulating the testes to testosterone (this is called chemical castration because it has the same result with the removal of the testes).
      Drugs given in the form of injections, usually every three months.
      The side effects are nausea and vomiting, flushed face, anemia, osteoporosis and impotence.

      Other drugs used for hormonal therapy is androgen inhibitor (eg flutamid), which function to prevent the attachment of testosterone on prostate cells.
      The side effects are impotence, liver disorders, diarrhea, and gynecomastia (enlarged breasts).

   2. Chemotherapy
      Chemotherapy is often used to treat symptoms of prostate cancer is resistant to hormonal therapy.
      Usually given a single drug or combination of several drugs to destroy cancer cells.

      Drugs that can be used to treat prostate cancer are:
      - Mitoxantronx
      - Prednisone
      - Paclitaxel
      - Dosetaxel
      - Estramustin
      - Adriamycin.
      The side effects vary and depend on the drugs given.

Monitoring
Fro any type of treatment, patients will be monitored closely related to disease development.Monitoring include:- A blood test to determine PSA levels (usually every third month - 1 year).- Skening and / or CT scan to determine the spread of bone cancer.- Complete blood examination to monitor the signs and symptoms of anemia.- Monitoring for signs and symptoms indicating disease progression (eg fatigue, weight loss, more severe pain, decreased bowel and bladder function as well as weaknesses).  

source : http://medicastore.com