Prostate Cancer
Facts About Prostate Cancer
- Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system, grow uncontrollably.
- Although it is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in men, many never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes.
- The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer can cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms can potentially develop during later stages of the disease.
- Prostate cancer is nearly 100% curable if detected early and treated.
Diagnosis
- The most common indication of prostate cancer is often an elevated PSA level, or presence of a Prostate-Specific Antigen, in blood drawn during a routine physical. When a man has symptoms of prostate cancer, or a screening test indicates an increased risk for cancer, a more invasive evaluation is required.
- The only test that can fully confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer is a biopsy. Transrectal ultrasonography which creates a picture of the prostate using sound waves from a probe in the rectum, is often used to guide biopsy procedure. During a biopsy a urologist or radiologist obtains tissue samples from the prostate via the rectum.
- The tissue samples are then examined under a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present. If cancer cells are found, the pathology report means to be more aggressive cancer cell type of the disease as a Gleason score on a scale of one to 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more dangerous the cancer.
Treatment Options
Treatment for prostate cancer may involve active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy including brachytherapy, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or some combination. Which option is best depends on the stage of the disease, the Gleason score, and the PSA level. Other important factors are the man's age, his general health, and his feelings about potential treatments and their possible side-effects. All treatment are not free of side-effects, treatment discussions often focus on balancing the goals of therapy with the risks of lifestyle alterations.
Surgery
Surgical removal of the prostate, called prostatectomy, is a common treatment for early stage prostate cancer. The most common type is radical retropubic prostatectomy, when the surgeon removes the prostate through an abdominal incision. Another type is radical perineal prostatectomy, when the surgeon removes the prostate through an incision in the perineum, the skin between the scrotum and anus.
The most common serious complications of surgery are loss of urinary control and impotence. Although penile sensation and the ability to achieve orgasm usually remain intact, erection and ejaculation are often impaired.
Radiation Therapy
- Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to kill prostate cancer cells. Radiation therapy is commonly used in prostate cancer treatment. It can be used instead of surgery with a similar cure rate to surgery.
- Radiation therapy can also be used when cancer cells remain after prostate surgery (adjuvant therapy).
- External beam radiation therapy uses a linear accelerator to produce high-energy x-rays that are directed in a beam towards the prostate.
- Brachytherapy, where radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate to kill cancerous cells, can be used for patients with low to intermediate risk features.
- Radiation therapy also can be combined with hormonal therapy for intermediate or high risk patients, when surgery or radiation therapy alone is less likely to cure the cancer.
- Acute side effects which might occur during radiotherapy include tanning of skin, temporary fatigue, diarrhea, bladder irritation, frequent or urgent urination and rectal irritation. These are common side-effects, but usually disappear naturally within a few weeks without treatment. Rare but more serious side-effects which can occur a few months to a year after treatment include erectile dysfunction, urinary obstruction and rectal bleeding that requires medication or surgery to stop.
WHY IS PROTON THERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER?
- Although still a relatively newer cancer treatment, proton therapy has already shown promise in the treatment of prostate cancer.
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Proton therapy carries a series of advantages that is unrivaled to what other prostate cancer treatments have to offer.
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Excellent tumor control
Thanks to more accurate targeting of tumor, the physician can deliver full or higher doses.
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Lower risk of damage to healthy tissue
Non-invasive, painless procedure as well as minimal amount of radiation to tissues surrounding the prostate can reduce patient risk of experiencing side effects
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Better quality of life
Proton therapy doesn't require any recovery time and poses a minimal risk of side effect. In fact, men are generally able to continue their life style while undergoing this prostate cancer therapy.
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- Provided in an outpatient setting, has little to no harm to patients¡¯ energy level and well-being sensation.
