Prostate cancer is a very common type of cancer in men, especially after age 50, usually this cancer develops very slowly and most of the time does not produce symptoms in the early phase, however, it can manifest in signs such as changes in urine, pain when urinating or difficulty maintaining an erection , for example, which is common.Other problems such as benign prostate hyperplasia.
Treatment is usually done by surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the disease, which, when discovered at an early stage, is more likely to be cured.
- Because it is a cancer that can be easily treated at an early stage and is relatively common in older men.
- The Brazilian Society of Urology recommends that screening be performed from age 50 or 45 in men with a history of prostate cancer in the family.
- Especially the father or brother.
The first symptoms of prostate cancer are nonspecific and very similar to any other problems in this region, so to find out if there is a risk of a prostate problem, check what you are feeling:
However, just because you’re at risk of a prostate problem doesn’t mean it’s a cancer, as other problems, such as prostatitis or benign prostate enlargement, are more common, problems that, although they require treatment, are easier to control.and don’t pose as high a health risk as cancer.
However, if any of these symptoms appear, you should always consult a urologist for tests that identify whether it is actually a case of cancer, such as a rectal touch or PSA, as early diagnosis greatly increases the chances of recovery.
Watch the video below and see what symptoms indicate prostate problems and what tests may be done:
In more advanced cases, where the prostate is very large and the cancer more developed, other more serious symptoms may appear, such as:
In addition, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms such as constant pain in the back, thighs, shoulders or other bones, for example, are also common.
In the latter stages, treatment is more difficult, but it is always important to consult your doctor to assess the extent of the disease and whether other organs have been affected, adapting treatment.
Because this cancer does not cause symptoms early in its progression, the best way to evaluate whether the cancer develops in the prostate is through a rectal touch and a BLOOD test with PSA.
If, during rectal touch, your doctor feels a lump or if PSA blood test is severely affected, your prostate should be examined in more detail by ultrasound, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and urine analysis.Learn more about key tests used to identify prostate cancer.
Once prostate cancer is confirmed, it is essential to identify the stage of cancer to guide treatment, namely:
The degree of cancer helps define the best treatment and see if there is a cure for the disease.
There is no specific cause for the development of prostate cancer, however, some factors are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and include:
In addition, African-American men are also twice as likely to have prostate cancer as any other ethnic group.
Prostate cancer, in many cases, has a cure and this can be achieved through treatments including surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and treatment can be done for free in hospitals such as INCA.
In most cases, the chances of recovery are higher when the disease is diagnosed early, and treatment may generally include:
In many cases, these treatments can cause side effects such as urinary incontinence, impotence and inability to have children, but if left untreated, the disease can spread throughout the body and be life-threatening.
In some cases, prostate cancer is only diagnosed when it spreads to other parts of the body, reducing the chance of curing the disease.