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Optimal wellness through technology, educationand social engagement

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Prostate Cancer

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What is the Prostate?

§ A male sex gland

§ The size of a walnut below the bladder and in front of the rectum

§ Produces the fluid that is part of semen

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Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

§ Age – Found mainly in men over age 55. Average age of diagnosis is 70.

§ Family History – Men’s risk is higher if father or brother is diagnosed before the age of 60.

§ Race – Prostate cancer is found more often in African American men then White men. It is less common in Asian and American Indian men.

§ Dietary Factors – Evidence suggests that a diet high in fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer, and diets high in fruits and vegetables decrease the risk.

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Risk for Developing Prostate Cancer

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Death Rates For Prostate Cancer

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What Goes Wrong

§ Three main types of problems can afflict the prostate– Infection– Enlargement– Cancer

§ Prostate infections, called prostatitis, are fairly common in men from the teen years on– These infections can be brief or long-lasting, mild or severe, easy or

difficult to treat with antibiotics– Symptoms of prostatitis can include frequent and/or painful urination,

other urinary difficulties, or pain during sex

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What Goes Wrong

§ Prostate enlargement, called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short, is an unwanted but non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. – Although men in their twenties can suffer from BPH, it usually surfaces

later in life. – It's estimated that half of all men have BPH by the age of 60, and 90%

will suffer from it by age 85.

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What Goes Wrong

§ Prostate cancer– Cells normally divide when new cells are needed, but sometimes

cells divide for no reason, creating a mass of tissue called a tumor.

– Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that usually begins in the outer part of the prostate. In most men, the cancer grows very slowly.

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Recommendations for Screening

§ The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE) should begin at the age of 50

§ African Americans and men who have first degree relatives diagnosed before the age of 60 should start at 45 years old

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Screening for Prostate Cancer

§ Prostate-Specific Antigen Blood Test (PSA) – Measures substance made by the prostate gland

§ Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) – Physical exam of the Prostate Gland

§ Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) –Uses sound waves to make an image of the prostate on a video screen

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Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

§ Frequent urination

§ Inability to urinate

§ Trouble starting and stopping urination

§ Blood in the urine or semen

§ Painful ejaculation

§ Painful or burning urination

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Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

§ Confirmed only by an biopsy taken from part of the prostate

§ Pathologists then grade the biopsy to give likely hood of cancerous tissue

§ Then pathologists can tell what stage the cancer is in, 4 stages in all

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Procedures for Prostate Cancer

§ Radical Prostatectomy – Removal of entire prostate gland and nerves

§ Radiation Therapy – High-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells

§ Expectant Therapy – Regularly scheduled screenings

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§ Cryosurgery – freezes abnormal cells of the prostate with a metal probe

§ Hormone Therapy – Decreases the androgen (testosterone) levels in the body

§ Chemotherapy – Anticancer drugs injected into a vein or taken by mouth

Procedures for Prostate Cancer

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§ Transurethral Resection of the Prostate – Partial removal of tissue from the prostate

§ Brachytherapy – confined dosage of radioactive seeds inserted directly into the prostate while minimizing healthy tissue damage

Procedures for Prostate Cancer

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Side Effects of Treatments

§ Impotence – Could last for 3 months or longer

§ Incontinence – Loss of bladder control or dribbling

§ Bowel problems - Burning and rectal pain and/or diarrhea

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What’s the Outlook?

§ While the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer remains high, survival rates are also improving. – Almost 89% of men diagnosed with the disease will survive at

least five years– 63% will survive 10 years or longer.

§ The increased number of treatment options make this possible

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Test Results

§ PSA levels under 4vng/ml are considered normal.– Just to be safe, if your level is 3 ng/mlor higher, or the level increases

from one test to the other you should discuss the results with your physician.

§ After a DRE your doctor will discuss the test results with you. – If they detect a suspicious lump or area during the exam, an ultrasound

or biopsy may be recommended.

§ If any results come back abnormal, or you do not understand them contact your health care provider for further information.

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Additional Resources

§ American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

§ National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov

§ Oncology Care International www.oncli.com

§ Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.govand Prevention