The key facts behind prostate cancer

Another article about what is cancer…
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. If detected early and is still confined to the gland itself then the chances of survival are excellent. The modern surgical techniques, in combination with drugs such as Viagra, means that an operation to treat prostate cancer does not signal the end of a patient's sex life.
  The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland near the bladder in men that produces one component of semen. A wide range of prostate cancers, some of which are extremely gentle and indolent and can cause significant health problems. However, others have the ability to spread to other parts of the body and cause major damage if not treated. This means it is important to detect prostate cancer early and then can be treated with radiation therapy and surgery.
  Symptoms of prostate cancer
  The first sign of prostate cancer can be felt when you go to the bathroom. You may find that you go to the bathroom a lot more and you can not maintain a full-time flow of urination. However, these problems are also associated with a series of medical problems and not always indicate prostate cancer.
  The prostate cancer symptoms are caused by cell growth, either malignant or benign, pushing against the urethra, the thin tube that connects the bladder to the penis. If you are suffering from the symptoms above, then you should look out for pain when urinating or ejaculating, blood in urine or semen and pain in the back, hips or thighs.
  Again, these symptoms may be caused by any number of things, including infection, but it would be advisable to visit your GP for review. There are several ways a doctor can detect prostate cancer. The simplest way is the digital rectal exam, in which the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel an enlarged prostate. Following this a blood test can be performed to find any increase in chemicals in the blood, and then come more sophisticated tests such as ultrasound and x-rays.
  The causes of prostate cancer
  The exact causes of prostate cancer are still unclear, but there are a number of factors that can increase the chances of development. These include, but are not limited to, a family history of prostate cancer and a diet high in fat.
  There has been a series of studies on the relationship between prostate cancer and vasectomy, but these have so far proven inconclusive.
  Treatment for prostate cancer
  Sometimes the best treatment for prostate cancer can be for not trying at all. This sometimes is the case of older men when you consider that surgery or other treatments may cause more harm than good.
  If the cancer has spread from the prostate, or believed to be spread, surgery is usually the first course of action to eliminate while it is still possible and prevent further spread. A prostatectomy is when the prostate gland is removed, usually with small parts of the lymphatic system near the gland. However, this surgery can cause nerve damage that can prevent men getting an erection anymore, or maintain complete control over urination. This does not mean that a man's sexual life is more modern though, as "nerve-sparing" surgical techniques, when combined with medications like Viagra, can make to minimize the effects on function and quality of life.
  Another treatment option is radiation therapy, which will be precisely centered in the pelvic area, while other doctors are fighting prostate cancer using the body's own hormones. In the latter case, the cells of the prostate, including cancer, are sensitive to the levels of certain male hormones, may be much less active if levels are reduced. However, this can reduce the sex drive of the patient.
  Advances in prostate cancer surgery
  Advances in prostate cancer surgery mean that surgeons can now successfully remove the prostate without causing damage to the nerves of the problem that has been unavoidable in the past. In addition, technological advances mean that much higher radiation doses can be targeted more precisely on the prostate, killing more cancer cells with fewer treatments.
  A technique called prostate brachytherapy has also made great strides in recent times and their use is increasingly common. There are two methods of brachytherapy – permanent seed implantation and high dose rate (HDR) temporary brachytherapy.
  Permanent seed implantation involves injecting approximately 100 radioactive seeds into the prostate gland, which fight cancer and emit radiation at low doses for several weeks or months, and the seeds remain in the prostate gland permanently .
  HDR temporary brachytherapy involves placing tiny plastic catheters into the prostate gland, and then give a series of radiation treatments through these catheters.
  Another option is selective high-intensity ultrasound, which uses sound waves to "melt" away the cancer.
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