The number of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased dramatically over the past decade. This disease is also known by other names: prostate carcinoma or prostate carcinoma.
Approximately 400,000 men worldwide are diagnosed with this disease each year. Many cases end in death. Doctors attribute this to the late visit to the clinic and the neglect of annual medical examinations. What you need to know about prostate cancer, symptoms? And is there any chance of recovery at all?
General concepts
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that affects the tissues of the prostate gland. Medical statistics says that it is this type of oncology that in many countries occupies a leading place in the death rate of men from cancer. Only tumors of the stomach and lungs are ahead of prostate carcinoma.
The majority of patients with this diagnosis are men over 40 years old. The risk of developing prostate cancer also increases with age. So, 70% of patients are elderly people from 60 to 80 years old.
Reason for developmentprostate carcinomas
There is no exact data on the causes of the development of oncology. To date, doctors have only been able to identify risk factors. These data are established on the basis of special studies and data collection during the comprehensive diagnosis of cancer patients.
Age. This is one of those risk factors that are irrefutably confirmed by international medical statistics. Men under 40 have practically no symptoms of prostate cancer, and if such cases are detected, they are isolated. This pattern can be explained by age-related changes occurring in the cells of the human body
- Genetics. There is a possibility of a genetic predisposition to this disease. In other words, if close relatives of a man suffered from a malignant tumor of the prostate gland, then the risk increases markedly.
- Alcohol abuse. Frequent consumption of strong drinks becomes one of the risk factors for the development of prostate carcinoma, especially if it is accompanied by prolonged smoking.
- Prostate disease. Almost half of the male population at least once in their lives experienced problems with difficulty urinating, lack of desire and the appearance of pain in the groin. These are symptoms of inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). The lack of proper treatment or an incomplete course of therapy can lead to pathological processes in the tissues of the prostate and cause the growth of malignant cells.
- Wrong diet. Lack of a balanced diet is extremely important. Studies have shown that many cancer patients preferred meat products, fried, spicy and fatty foods.
- Prostate adenoma. Patients suffering from prostate adenoma require special attention. A benign tumor can eventually become malignant.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Lack of regular physical activity provokes stagnation of blood in the pelvic area. Oxygen starvation of cells can lead to various changes and provoke signs of prostate cancer in men.
It should be noted that the presence of certain factors does not necessarily lead to prostate cancer, it only increases the risk of developing this disease.
Signs of prostate cancer in men
This is a very insidious type of cancer, as it can develop asymptomatically for a long time. In other words, a person may not even be aware of his illness. At the same time, precious time is running out, and there is less and less chance of recovery.
The gradual growth of the tumor leads to the following symptoms:
- frequent urge to urinate (especially men feel this at night);
- impeded urine flow - urine stream may be weak and intermittent;
- often there is a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- burning during urination (it may not go away for some time after going to the toilet);
- unpleasant sensations and pulling pains in the groin area - patients note exactly pullingpain, while there is practically no acute pain;
- severe pain observed during a rectal examination, that is, with direct pressure on the prostate gland;
- constipation and pain during bowel movements;
- decrease (or complete absence) of potency;
- presence of a small amount of blood in the urine or semen (usually appears much later than other symptoms);
- deterioration of the general condition of a person.
Many men do not rush to the clinic, noticing the first signs of the disease. This is mainly explained by the fact that in the early stages of prostate cancer, the symptoms are very similar to those of other diseases (for example, prostatitis and prostate adenoma). However, constant pain and hematuria (blood in the urine) are irrefutable evidence that there are malignant cells in a man's body.
The disease is accompanied by a sharp deterioration in the general condition of a person. Among the most common signs:
- drastic weight loss;
- drowsy;
- extremely fatigued;
- complete lack of appetite;
- absolute apathy.
Stage I prostate cancer
The main thing that distinguishes this stage from the subsequent ones is a tumor that is small in size and localized only in the superficial layer of the prostate. The deeper tissues of the organ are not yet involved in the process. At this stage, prostate cancer may not develop at all for a long time.
This period is accompanied by relatively good he alth of the cancer patient and the absence of characteristicsymptoms. Contacting the clinic at this stage allows you to make good predictions, because it is at stage I that prostate cancer is treated as quickly and efficiently as possible. Another thing is that it is extremely difficult to identify the disease during this period.
II stage
The tumor significantly increases in size and penetrates into the deeper layers of the prostate gland. The structure of the tumor is twisted cells and small nodes.
It is at this stage that a man begins to feel the first symptoms of prostate cancer. Malignant formation at this stage can already be diagnosed by instrumental methods. Treatment started at this time, in 80% of cases gives a positive result. That is why doctors recommend a thorough examination every year, especially for men over the age of 40.
Stage III
At stage III, there is an even greater increase in the tumor. Moreover, if before this carcinoma developed only in the tissues of the prostate, now it already affects the lymph nodes (usually in the groin area). This suggests that near metastases have appeared.
Another option for the development of the disease is metastasis to closely located organs of the small pelvis, including the bladder, rectum. A properly selected complex of treatment gives good results - with prostate cancer, life expectancy of patients over 5 years can be achieved in 40% of cases.
IV
This stage is considered the last. At this stage, the patient's conditionworsens: cancer patients note the presence of constant pain, from which conventional analgesics do not save.
IV stage of prostate cancer is accompanied by the spread of malignant cells to many internal organs (liver, intestines) or bones. The entire lymphatic system is affected. However, at this stage, complex treatment gives positive results. Survival rate - 25%.
Diagnostic Methods
The effectiveness of the treatment of any oncology largely depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis and the correctness of the chosen course of therapy. For this reason, the doctor should collect as much data about the disease as possible. This is done in several stages of diagnosing prostate cancer.
- Initial reception. At the first appointment, the doctor examines the patient's medical record, asks about the symptoms, their intensity and duration, learns general data about the life of a large person (to identify possible risk factors).
- Rectal palpation. During this procedure, the doctor feels the prostate gland through the anus. This allows you to judge the size and structure of the body.
- Submission of general tests. These include blood and urine tests. Of course, they do not provide information about the nature of the disease, but they signal the presence of pathological processes in the body.
- Ultrasound with a rectal probe. Based on the results, it will be possible to judge the size of the prostate and the presence of a tumor.
- Biopsy. Using a special instrument, a sample of tumor tissue is taken. After a histological examination, a benign or malignant character is determinedneoplasms.
- Computed tomography. Through this examination, doctors receive information about the location of the tumor and the presence of metastases in prostate cancer.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment for prostate cancer is a surgical operation that removes a malignant tumor and a small area of tissue around it. After removal of prostate cancer, the risk of re-development (recurrence) of oncology is reduced.
Despite the fact that sparing methods of treatment have now appeared that do not require removal of the organ, surgery for prostate cancer is still considered one of the most effective measures in the fight against oncology.
There are contraindications to the operation. This is:
- patient age over 75;
- presence of certain comorbidities;
- heavy general condition of a person;
- presence of metastases.
Radiation therapy
During this treatment of prostate cancer, the human body is exposed to radiation, it affects malignant cells and destroys their structure. Due to this, the tumor loses the ability to further growth and development.
The difficulty lies in the fact that radiation also negatively affects he althy tissues (albeit to a much lesser extent), which causes severe side effects. To reduce the negative consequences, in recent years, doctors have begun to use a more progressive method - brachytherapy. According to this technique, prostate tissue is introducedsmall grains with radioactive isotopes that act locally (only on the tumor itself). Most often, radiation therapy for prostate cancer is prescribed in combination with other treatments.
Chemotherapy
The essence of this method of treatment is to use the strongest drugs. These medications have a negative effect on a malignant tumor, and therefore its growth is sharply reduced, and the cells lose their ability to develop further.
They take drugs in courses, and the administration of drugs is carried out intravenously. The doctor conducts the selection of funds individually.
This approach has numerous side effects, including feeling unwell, weakness, nausea, lack of appetite, excessive hair loss, and more. A high result is achieved by combining chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and other treatments for prostate cancer.
Cryosurgery
In the list of modern methods of combating prostate carcinoma, cryosurgery is also distinguished. This method involves exposure of cancer cells to low temperatures. Such freezing destroys the internal structure of cancer cells and neutralizes them.
The advantage of this method lies in the sparing approach. In other words, the prostate gland is not removed, as in a surgical operation, but only the neoplasm is destroyed. As a stand-alone treatment, cryosurgery is rarely prescribed, more often compatible with other treatment options.
Forecasts
Despite the danger of prostate carcinoma, even this disease is effectively treated by advanced medicine. However, the prognosis depends on the patient. The earlier oncology is diagnosed, the greater the chance of a positive outcome of therapy. So, if at the first stage of the disease in 99% of cases there is a chance for a complete cure, then by stage 4 it decreases to 25%.
For the effectiveness of treatment, it is extremely important to provide the patient with a varied diet, including fish, poultry, a significant amount of vegetables, fruits and various cereals. The diet should also include freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Another extremely important component is a positive attitude. Both medical staff and loved ones should provide the cancer patient with maximum care and participation.
