Prostate cancer: every man should know this

Prostate is the organ of the male reproductive system that produces part of the seminal fluid and takes part in the act of ejaculation. Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that is formed from prostate tissue. This is a fairly common disease, which most often affects men older than 50 years.

Causes and risk factors for prostate cancer

The exact causes of prostate cancer are not known to date. However, it is established that the disease is associated with the level of the male sex hormone - testosterone. The higher it is, the more likely the development of cancer. Risk factors also include:

• Hereditary predisposition (prostate cancer in close relatives)
• Elderly age
• Prostate adenoma
• Malnutrition (excessive fat intake and insufficient fiber intake)
• The impact of cadmium (work in the field of printing, rubber production, welding)

Features of the course of the disease

Prostate cancer is characterized by slow development. Since the appearance of cancer cells to the last stage of cancer can take up to 15 years. This explains the fact that in the early stages of the disease is almost not manifested. In this case, the tumor can metastasize and begin to spread to other organs (most often in the lymph nodes, liver, adrenal glands, lungs and bones). This is the main danger of prostate cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

In most cases, prostate cancer in the early stages is asymptomatic. The first symptoms are usually manifested with an increase in the size of the tumor and its spread. At these stages, cancer can cause such symptoms:

• Difficulty with urination
• Urinary incontinence
• Sudden urge to urinate
• Increased urination
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain in the lumbar region
• Pain in the perineum
• Education of kidney stones
• Common weakness
• Weight loss

Symptoms of prostate cancer are similar in many respects to the manifestations of many other diseases of the genitourinary system, so the diagnosis can be diagnosed only by a doctor after a medical examination.

How to recognize prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is difficult to detect on its own in the early stages, so it is recommended that all men over 45 years have a regular examination - prostate screening. This is the surest way to recognize cancer in the bud and begin timely treatment.

Treatment of prostate cancer

The main methods of treatment of prostate cancer include drug treatment, surgical treatment and radiation therapy. The method or combination of therapies is chosen by the physician for each patient, depending on the stage of the disease and the age and condition of the patient.

The surgical method of treatment is used in those cases when the tumor has not spread to other tissues and organs. In this case, the operation in most cases leads to complete recovery of the patient.

The drug treatment of prostate cancer is to take hormones that lower the level of testosterone. This allows you to slow down the growth of the tumor and metastases. Although drug treatment and does not provide a complete cure, but it helps to improve the patient's condition and alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Radiation therapy, which consists of radioactive irradiation of the tumor, also does not guarantee complete recovery, but it allows slowing the development of the tumor and reduces the likelihood of metastasis.

The prognosis of prostate cancer treatment largely depends on the stage at which the disease was diagnosed and on the patient's age. In recent years, many discoveries have been made in the field of diagnosis and treatment of this disease, which significantly increased the effectiveness of various treatments for prostate cancer.