Prostate Cancer Treatment in India - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Prostate Cancer occurs in the prostate, the glandular organ present in the male reproductive system which produces semen-like fluid that protects and transports the sperm. The prostate surrounds another organ of the reproductive system, called urethra which carries the urine from the kidney. Prostate Cancer is one of one most common cancers that occur in men. Prostate Cancer progresses slowly over time, that's why it is often detected in the advanced stages. However, it can spread out quickly to other body parts and get aggressive. Hence, prostate cancer treatment is needed.

Prostate Cancer Causes

The exact cause of Prostate Cancer is not exactly known, however, several DNA mutations cause damage to cells and continue to spread out at a rapid rate, killing other healthy cells too. The risks factors that can trigger the growth of cancer cells in the prostate. They are:

• Age: Prostate Cancer is commonly diagnosed in men above 60 years of age.
• Ethnicity: African American Men are more vulnerable to develop Prostate Cancer than any other race.
• Hereditary: If a man has his first-degree relative having a history of Prostate Cancer, there are high chances he may develop it.
• Obesity: Obese men are more likely to be the victim of  Prostate Cancer.
• Sexual Infection: Sexually transmitted diseases increase the risk of  Prostate Cancer.
• Chemical Exposure: Men with exposure to carcinogenic chemicals like Cadmium are a high risk of DNA mutations leading to  Prostate Cancer.
• Vitamin E and Vitamin C: These two vitamins have been found to fail to prevent  Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Early signs of Prostate Cancer are not usually observed. It is only when cancer starts getting aggressive leading to improper functioning of the prostate, such as a blockage in the urinary passage, that more symptoms of Prostate Cancer come to light. Here are the few Prostate Cancer symptoms:

• Frequent Urination
• Blood in urine
• Dribbling
• Painful Ejaculation
• Weight loss
• Bone Pain
• Bladder Obstruction
• Swelling in legs or pelvic area

Prostate Cancer Symptoms in Men

It's possible that the early stages of prostate cancer won't generate any Prostate cancer symptoms in men. A more advanced stage of prostate cancer may be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including the following:

• Having difficulty urinating
• The pee contained blood
• A natural and unintentional reduction in weight
• Less force being exerted by the stream of pee
• Dysfunction of the erection (ED)
• There was blood in the sperm
• Dysfunction of the erection (ED)
• Bone ache

Prostate Cancer Stages

Prostate Cancer Stages are classified according to the extent and size of the tumor (extent of metastatic prostate cancer). Cancer starts from stage 0 where the tumor cells have not spread out of the prostate, deep into in and the other organs.

While the last stage, stage 4 Prostate Cancer is defined as critical, dangerous ad cancer has spread to neighbouring organs too, making the condition very serious.

Types of Prostate Cancer

The cell where the Prostate Cancer started is named as the type of Prostate Cancer which may be caused in the patient. Here are the different types of Prostate Cancer:

1.Acinar adenocarcinoma:

Adenocarcinomas cancers are present in the lining of the prostate gland. These types of Prostate Cancer are the most kind of prostate cancer in men.

2. Ductal Adenocarcinoma:

This type of Prostate Cancer also start from the lining of the prostate, however, they tend to spread out quicker than Acinar Adenocarcinomas cancers

3. Transitional cell (or urothelial) cancer:

This type of Prostate Cancer starts in the lining of the tube via which the urine travels to the urethra for disposal. The cells are therefore present in the bladder, which later spread out towards the prostate area.

4. Squamous cell cancer:

Squamous cell cancers constitute tumors originating from flat cells covering the prostate. They also tend to grow quickly.

Option for Testing

Various tests are available for men who suspect they may have prostate cancer.

• Older men with a 10-year survival expectation and an estimated prostate cancer risk of 50 or more
• Men 45 years old or above have a high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African-American men and men with a first-degree relation who were diagnosed with prostate cancer just before age 65.
• Men age 40 and older have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer, including having a first-degree cousin who has had the disease at a young age.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are several types of prostate cancer treatment options, each treatment is highly subject to age, stage and size of cancer. Here are the different  prostate cancer treatment options:

1. Prostate Cancer Surgery:

The Prostate Cancer Surgery, also called as Radical prostatectomy one of the prostate cancer treatment options, where the prostate is surgically removed. The recovery time for the Prostate Cancer Surgery is about 3-4 months.

2. Brachytherapy:

In this method of Prostate Cancer Treatment, radioactive seeds are used as a cure where they are implanted into the prostate so that radiation therapy only targets the cancer cells in this body part.

3. Conformal radiation therapy:

Here, the radiation beams are projected on the body in a particular shape which is similar to the cancer region, so that only that part of the body is exposed to the harmful radiation, thereby preserving other healthy tissues of the body. In Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, more powerful beams of radiation are used.

4. Chemotherapy:

At advanced Prostate Cancer stage, Chemotherapy is chosen as the prostate cancer treatment, where strong drugs are administered either orally or via injection may be recommended, as it can kill cancer cells around the body.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or Androgen Suppression Therapy, is hormone therapy to suppress the action of the male hormone, androgen. Androgen is believed to stimulate cancer growth. Thus by suppressing androgen levels in the male body, the prostate cancer stops growing. This method of Prostate Cancer, Treatment is also used for advanced Prostate Cancer stage.

Can prostate cancer be cured?

One in three men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It's never pleasant to be told you have cancer of any kind, but for many patients, the first thing they want to know is, “Can prostate cancer be cured?"

Prostate cancer may be cured if caught and treated early, which is the simple answer. 90percent of prostate cancer patients are diagnosed in their earliest stages, which makes them more responsive to therapy and hence more likely to survive. There are additional options besides surgery and chemotherapy. While traditional radiosurgery might take weeks or even months to complete, non-invasive radiation therapy allows patients to return to their everyday routines the same day they get treatment.

Prostate Cancer Survival Rate

For men, the 5-year prostate cancer survival rate is almost 100%. Whereas the prostate cancer survival rate after 10 and 15 years is 98% and 96% respectively.

Cure Rate for Prostate Cancer

The proportion of persons with the same kind and tumor stage who are still alive after a particular period, typically five years, may be estimated by looking at survival rates. You won't know your life expectancy based on these figures, but they may give a great idea of the likelihood that your therapy will be effective.

People with the same cancer kind and stage are compared to the general population in terms of their relative survival rates. To put it another way, men with a certain phase of prostate cancer are 90percent as likely to survive for at least five years following diagnosis as those without the illness.

Life expectancies are predictions based on the experiences of many individuals who have had certain cancers in the past; nonetheless, they cannot tell you what will happen to you or anyone you know in the future. These numbers might be perplexing and may even prompt more inquiries on your part. Visit your physician, who is well-versed in your medical history, to see whether any of these figures apply to you.

Can a prostate cancer patient recover?

Your doctors will continue to monitor you even after your treatment is over. Attending all of your scheduled follow-up consultations is critical. At these appointments, physicians will inquire about any health issues you may be experiencing and conduct tests to search for cancer symptoms or medication side effects.

After a course of therapy, you may have side effects that last for months or even years after the course of treatment have been completed. During your doctor's appointments, you should feel free to bring up any issues, changes, or worries you've noticed. You should notify your doctor about every symptom or issue you see since they might indicate that your cancer has returned or that a new illness has developed.

A cancer diagnosis marks a significant turning point in one's life. Accept that things will never be the same as they were in the past. It can ease the transition to a new normal after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Things that may be different include:

• The perception of one's body. You may have to deal with a shift in your self-perception or a decline in your self-esteem.
• Identification. Due to the disease, some men perceive that they have lost their masculine identity.
• Responsibilities in the family. Treatment and recovery might cause a person to lose their ability to do everyday tasks at home, such as cooking and cleaning.

Chances of Recurrence

Surgery or radiotherapy may not be enough to rid you of your cancer completely, but there's always a chance that it may come back. After five years of initial treatment, 20-30% of men will have a recurrence (a cancerous PSA blood test is used to identify this). The more extensive and aggressive cancer, the greater the probability of a recurrence. Many web tools have been compiled to estimate the risk of a recurrence.

Prostate Cancer FAQs