The prostate is a small gland in the male body, located between the bladder and urethra. Rather small in size and having limited functions (mainly the development of a special secret for the formation of high-quality sperm), it causes great trouble to a huge number of men. Problems can start at an early age (25 years or even earlier), when young men discover that they have a disease such as prostatitis. This is an inflammation of the prostate gland, which makes itself felt with frequent urination, heaviness in the lower abdomen, erection problems, insomnia, etc. Experts say that these days prostatitis has "rejuvenated", i.e. it is increasingly diagnosed in young men (previously it was a disease rather 30-40-year-olds).
Causes of disease
There are several reasons: promiscuous sex life (infections), poor hygiene (also infections), sedentary lifestyle (typical office clerk, spending most of his working time in front of the computer), irregular sex life (lack ofejaculation), etc. Treating prostatitis with antibacterial agents, prescribing prostate massage, and recommending lifestyle changes (exercising more, avoiding colds, etc.).
The most serious prostate disease: cancer
Prostatitis, if left untreated, becomes chronic. But even more unpleasant and serious diseases that can develop in this part of the body are prostate adenoma (benign tumor) and prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is already ranked 3rd in some countries (after lung and stomach cancer), but in terms of mortality, it ranks 2nd (after lung cancer). 10% of all Russian men with cancer die of prostate cancer. The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of prostatitis: frequent urge to urinate, weak urine stream, erection problems, heaviness in the lower abdomen. However, in the stage of cancer, drops of blood appear in the urine, there are pains in the perineum, chronic impotence, pain in the bones, swelling of the lower extremities. There are 4 stages of a disease such as prostate cancer. Life expectancy in stage I cancer is more than 10 years for 90% of all patients. 100% of patients live with the disease for 5 years. But at this stage, the disease stops only in case of successful treatment. If the treatment is prescribed incorrectly, or the patient does not fulfill all the requirements of the doctor, progressive prostate cancer is observed. The life expectancy of a patient in case the cancer progresses to stage II will be more than 10 years for only 60-70% of patients. The remaining 30-40% of patients who receivedthis difficult diagnosis, live less than 10 years. According to other data, 100% of patients live for at least another 5 years. Again, with unsuccessful treatment (or in its absence, if the patient did not turn to the doctor on time), or depending on other factors (for example, the individual characteristics of the organism), the patient continues to develop prostate cancer. Life expectancy of 10 years or more remains only in 30-40% of all patients with stage III prostate cancer. Other sources speak of a 5-year survival rate of 50%. At this stage (and even at earlier ones), metastases are observed (the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body). Prostate cancer is dangerous because metastases with it can develop almost asymptomatically, imperceptibly. In general, the sooner treatment is started, the more effective it will be and the slower the cancer will develop.
Prostate Cancer: Stage 4 (Last)
Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of doctors, the patient himself and his relatives, some patients are diagnosed with stage IV of this disease. This is the last, most dangerous and severe stage of the disease of a patient with prostate cancer. Life expectancy at this stage does not exceed 10 years in 85-90% of all patients. Of course, everything depends on the methods of treatment, on the mood of the patient himself, on following all the doctor's prescriptions, etc. However, it gives hope that medicine does not stand still, and more and more often you can hear the expression "cancer is not a sentence", including for prostate cancer. New methods of treatment are being developed, and the life expectancy of patientsthis type of cancer is increasing.
Treatment methods
Therapy for prostate cancer includes hormone therapy, medical therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy (in the early stages of metastasis). Nowadays, cryotherapy is also used (treatment of affected areas by freezing). In the Altai Regional Oncology Center in 2009, data on the methods of treatment of 200 patients (middle-aged men) with prostate cancer were studied. As a result of the study, conclusions were drawn that with localized forms of cancer, surgery increased life expectancy. At III-IV stages, the use of hormone therapy in combination with radiation therapy was more effective in increasing life expectancy.
