Premier - Local Urologist
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Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer that affects men in today’s society.
Approximately one in six men will have prostate cancer. Our biggest challenge is to find prostate cancers that are significant, that is they’re going to lead to morbidity, or even mortality. -
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Understanding prostate cancer <p> <a href="https://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/practitioner-type/urologist">Urologist</a> -Oncologist, Understanding prostate cancer</p>Urologist -Oncologist, Understanding prostate cancer
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Prostate Cancer Surveillance <p><a href="https://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/practitioner-type/urologist"> Urologist </a>discusses active surveillance.</p>Urologist discusses active surveillance.
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Medication side effects and lifestyle treatment options <p><a href="https://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/practitioner-type/urologist">Urologist,</a> discusses Medication side effects and lifestyle treatment options</p>Urologist, discusses Medication side effects and lifestyle treatment options
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Preventing bone loss during cancer treatment <p> <a href="https://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/practitioner-type/urologist">Urologist,</a> discusses Preventing bone loss during cancer treatment</p>Urologist, discusses Preventing bone loss during cancer treatment
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What is Prostate Cancer?
What are treatment options for prostate cancer? Fortunately, there are many different treatment options for prostate cancer. Identifying treatment options for you will depend on:
- The Grade of the cancer, also known as Gleason Score.
- Whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (the absence or presence of metastasis).
- Your age and general health status.
- Prior prostate treatments you may have already undergone.
The three standard therapies for men with organ-confined or localized prostate cancer are:
- Active surveillance.
- Surgery.
- Radiation therapy.
Active surveillance refers to close observation of prostate cancer without direct treatment of the cancer itself. Your healthcare team will watch the cancer closely rather than provide treatment right away. The cancer is closely monitored with periodic tests and exams to check if prostate cancer is growing or spreading to see if your condition is getting worse. Treatment is given when the cancer appears to be changing.
Surgery for prostate cancer is called a radical prostatectomy and involves the removal of the prostate gland with or without some lymph nodes in the pelvis. This can be performed with key-hole surgery called laparoscopy (usually done with a robot to help the surgeon) or through a small incision in the lower part of the abdomen called open surgery. Radiation therapy is performed either from the outside (called external beam radiation) or with radiation “seeds” that are placed in the prostate (called brachytherapy). Your doctor may prescribe a treatment to reduce testosterone, called androgen deprivation, for a short period of time in conjunction with radiation.
Treatments for metastatic prostate cancer:
If the prostate cancer has spread outside the prostate gland, treatments are centered around drugs that reduce testosterone. These treatments, called androgen deprivation or ADT, are given to reduce testosterone – a hormone that is required for prostate cancer to grow. Other treatments that your doctor may consider may include:
- Chemotherapy treatment.
- Pills that work with ADT to reduce the ability of prostate cancer cells to use testosterone.
In summary, there are many different treatments for prostate cancer. Identifying the best treatment will depend on your specific situation and your preference after discussion with your doctor. Now Health Network
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Prostate Cancer Risk
Prostate cancer is a prevalent male cancer in Canada, with one in eight men estimated to develop it during their lifetime. It originates in the cells of the prostate, a walnut-sized organ located below the bladder, surrounding the urethra—the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis during urination. The prostate plays a role in supporting male fertility by secreting fluid that contributes to semen and aids in sperm transportation.
While the exact cause of prostate cancer is not fully understood, certain risk factors have been identified, including family history (having a father or brother with prostate cancer increases the risk), race (men of African ancestry have a higher risk, while Asian men have the lowest risk), and age (prostate cancer is more common in men over the age of 60).
Prostate cancer is often diagnosed in Canada through abnormalities detected in a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This test is typically given to men over the age of 50 to assess their risk of prostate cancer. Higher levels of PSA may indicate a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Additionally, doctors may perform a digital rectal exam (DRE) to feel for lumps on the outer layer of the prostate, as most prostate cancers grow there. A DRE is an important step in diagnosing prostate cancer and is generally not painful.
The most common type of prostate cancer is adenocarcinoma, accounting for over 95% of cases. Interestingly, most men with prostate cancer do not show any symptoms.
If an abnormality is detected in the prostate through a PSA test and/or a DRE, a physician may order a prostate biopsy to examine tissue for cancer under a microscope. In Canada, the biopsy is commonly performed through the rectum with ultrasound, but it can also be done through the perineum, the space between the scrotum and rectum.
Early detection and regular screening are essential for managing prostate cancer effectively, as early-stage prostate cancer often has better treatment outcomes. Men should discuss their risk factors and the appropriate screening options with their healthcare providers to ensure timely detection and appropriate management if prostate cancer is diagnosed.
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