Signs of prostate cancer
The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet of the urinary bladder. The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. Another function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar. Semen is the fluid that transports the sperm. A man can manage quit well, however, without his prostate gland.
PROSTATE CANCER:
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that consists of cells from the prostate gland. The tumor usually grows slowly and remains confined to the gland for many years. During this time, the tumor produces little or no symptoms or outward signs i.e. abnormalities on physical examination. As the cancer advances, however, it can spread beyond the prostate into the surrounding tissues. Moreover, the cancer also can metastasize, spread even farther, throughout other areas of the body, such as, the bones, lungs, and liver. Symptoms and signs, therefore, are more often associated with advanced prostate cancer.
SIGNS OF PROSTATE CANCER:
In the early stages, prostate cancer often causes no symptoms for many years. As a matter of fact, these cancers frequently are first detected by an abnormality on a blood test, or as a hard nodule, a lump, in the prostate gland. Usually, the doctor first feels the nodule during a routine digital done with the finger, rectal examination. As the cancer enlarges and presses on the urethra, the flow of urine diminishes and urination becomes more difficult. Patients may also experience burning with urination or blood in the urine. As the tumor continues to grow, it can completely block the flow of urine, resulting in a painfully obstructed and enlarged urinary bladder.
In the later stages, prostate cancer can spread locally into the surrounding tissue or the nearby lymph nodes, called the pelvic nodes. The cancer then can spread even farther to other areas of the body. The doctor on a rectal examination can sometimes detect local spread into the surrounding tissues. That is, the physician can feel a hard, fixed tumor extending from and beyond the gland. Prostate cancer usually metastasizes first to the lower spine or the pelvic bones, the bones connecting the lower spine to the hips, thereby causing back or pelvic pain. The cancer can then spread to the liver and lungs. The Metastases, areas to which the cancer has spread to the liver can cause pain in the abdomen and jaundice in rare instances. Metastases spread to the lungs, can cause chest pain and coughing.
SCREENING TESTS FOR PROSTATE CANCER:
Screening tests are those that are done at regular intervals to detect a disease such as prostate cancer at an early stage. If the result of a screening test is normal, the disease is presumed not to be present. If a screening test is abnormal, the disease is then suspected to be present, and further tests, usually are needed to confirm the suspicion, i.e. , to make the diagnosis definitively. Prostate cancer usually is suspected initially because of an abnormality of one or both of the two screening tests that are used to detect prostate cancer. These screening tests are a digital rectal examination and a blood test called the prostate specific antigen.
In the digital rectal examination, the doctor feels the prostate gland with his index finger in the rectum to detect abnormalities of the gland. If a lump, irregularity or hardness is felt on the surface of the gland then it is suspected for prostate cancer. Accordingly, the doctors usually recommend doing a digital rectal examination annually in men age 40 and over.
The Prostate specific antigen test is a simple, reproducible and accurate blood test. It is used to detect a protein that is released from the prostate gland into the blood. Most importantly, the level of the Prostate specific antigen is usually higher in people with prostate cancer than in people without the cancer. The prostate specific antigen therefore, is valuable as a screening test for prostate cancer. Accordingly, doctors usually recommend doing a prostate specific antigen annually in men age 50 and over. Furthermore, for men who have high risks for prostate cancer as discussed above, most doctors recommend starting the prostate specific antigen screening at an even younger age.
Results of the prostate specific antigen test under 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood are generally considered normal. Results between 4 and 10 are considered borderline. These borderline values are interpreted in the context of the patient age, symptoms, signs, family history and changes in the prostate specific antigen levels over time. Results higher than 10 are considered abnormal, suggesting the possibility of prostate cancer. When the result is on the higher side, the prostate specific antigen is more likely the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Moreover, the level of prostate specific antigen tends to increase when the cancer has progressed from organ confined prostate cancer to local spread to distant spread. Very high values, such as, 30 or 40 and over, are usually caused by prostate cancer.
The earlier a cancer is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance that it can be cured. Screening is useful for detecting some cancers, but people still need to be aware of symptoms as cancers may occur between screenings. Everyone should also take notice of the early warning signs of cancers for which there is no screening available.
The following list of symptoms warrants attention:
1. Change in bowel or bladder habits.
2. A sore throat that does not heal.
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge.
4. Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere.
5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
6. Obvious change in a wart or mole.
7. Nagging cough or hoarseness.
Any of these symptoms, indeed any unexplained lump, pain, weight loss, or lethargy, should be referred to a doctor. Although one or more symptoms may be indicative of something other than cancer, a check up to confirm their cause is the best course of action.
A physical examination for cancer includes inspection and palpation of all accessible sites, especially the skin, neck, breasts, abdomen, testicles and lymph node areas. It may include examination of bodily orifices, particularly rectal examination for cancers of the rectum or prostate and pelvic examination for cancers of the cervix or uterus.
SCREENING AND SELF EXAMINATION:
The earlier a cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance of cure. A monthly check for changes in the way the body looks and feels can help early detection of breast, skin and testicular cancer. Some cancers can be detected at an early or precancerous stage through screening.
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