Prostate Cancer Education

Prostate education, much like breast cancer in the 1970's, is still not considered a comfortable subject for conversation. U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Kerry are both survivors of prostate cancer. Their openness to educate about their medical surgery, along with former Secretary of State Colin Powell, professional golfer Arnold Palmer, Retired General Norman Schwarzkopf, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and others, have helped inform men and their families of treatment options through medical education.

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in American men. Skin cancer is number one. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer. While one man in six will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 33 will actually sucumb to this disease. The success rate for prostate cancer is improving, and the disease is being found earlier as well.

When a man learns through education that he has prostate cancer, he usually has many questions about what prostate cancer is and how the disease can be treated. It is also normal for men with prostate cancer, their families, and others close to them to have fears and concerns. With education, things improve. Most men and those who care about them find that their distress eases as prostate treatment begins and as they gain an understanding of the disease.

The term “cancer” refers to a condition in which the regulation of cell growth is lost and cells grow uncontrollably. Most cells in the body are constantly dividing, maturing and then dying in a tightly controlled process. Unlike normal cells, the growth of cancer cells is no longer well regulated. Cancer cells outlive normal cells and continue to form new, abnormal cells. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer and are rarely life threatening. Malignant tumors are cancer, and may be life threatening. Malignant prostate cancer tumors can often be removed, but they may grow back.

The term “primary tumor” refers to the original tumor; secondary tumors are caused when the original cancer spreads to other locations in the body. Prostate cancer typically is comprised of multiple very small, primary tumors within the prostate. At this stage, the disease is often curable (rates of 90 percent or better) with standard interventions such as surgery or radiation that aim to remove or kill all cancerous cells in the prostate. Unfortunately, at this stage the cancer produces few or no symptoms and can be difficult to detect.

Most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly. Autopsy studies show that many older men who pass of other diseases also had prostate cancer that neither they nor their doctor were aware of it. But sometimes-- prostate cancer can grow and spread quickly. Even with the latest methods, it is hard to tell which prostate cancers will grow slowly and which will grow quickly.

If untreated and allowed to grow, the cells from these tumors can spread in a process called metastasis. In this process, prostate cancer cells are transported through the lymphatic system and the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where they lodge and grow secondary tumors. Once the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, cure rates drop dramatically.

No one knows the exact causes of prostate cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one man develops the disease and another does not. Symptoms of prostate cancer include urinary problems, and frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. If a man has symptoms or test results that suggest prostate cancer, his doctor asks about his personal and family medical history, performs a physical exam, and may order laboratory tests.

Treatment for prostate cancer may involve surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, or watchful waiting. A man may have a combination of treatments. As always, the diagnosis and advice of a doctor are recommended for anyone concerned about prostate cancer. Resources