Prostate Cancer: A Serious Illness That Men Must Be Cautious

     Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, especially for those aged 60 and above. It develops when prostate cells grow abnormally and rapidly, eventually forming a cancerous mass that obstructs the urinary tract. These cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body, such as the seminal vesicles, bladder, lower urinary tract, lymph nodes, bones, lungs, and liver, causing damage to these organs and potentially leading to death.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

     Recent data shows that the incidence of prostate cancer is increasing. The risk factors for developing this disease include:

• Age The older a person is, the higher the risk of developing prostate cancer. It is commonly found in men over the age of 60.
• Genetics Men with a family history of prostate cancer, particularly if their father or brothers have had the disease, are at a higher risk than the general population.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

This disease progresses slowly and may not show symptoms in the early stages. It is only when the cancerous cells grow large enough to compress the urethra that symptoms related to urination begin to appear:

• Slow urine flow with difficulty passing urine
• Frequent urination
• A feeling that urination is not complete after finishing
• Presence of blood in the urine
• Urinary incontinence

Stages of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is classified into 4 stages:

• Stage 1 This is the early stage, where cancer is found only in one lobe of the prostate, with no spread of cancer cells.
• Stage 2 The cancer mass enlarges and is found in both lobes of the prostate, but there is still no spread of cancer cells.
• Stage 3 Cancer cells spread outside the prostate to the outer surface or invade the seminal vesicles.
• Stage 4 Cancer cells spread to other organs such as the bladder, lower urinary tract, lymph nodes, bones, liver, and lungs.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

• Surgery This involves removing the cancerous mass. It is effective for patients who are younger, healthy and do not have other health issues that might interfere with surgery. Surgery can be performed via open abdominal surgery or minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
• Radiation therapy This option is considered for older patients or those who cannot undergo surgery. Radiation can be administered externally or by inserting radioactive materials directly into the prostate.
• Watchful waiting In this approach, the disease is monitored without immediate treatment, suitable for elderly patients or those in the early stages of cancer.
• Hormone therapy This involves reducing testosterone levels through surgery to remove both testicles or using medications to lower testosterone.
• Chemotherapy This is often used when hormone therapy is ineffective.