What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ located under the bladder and surrounding the urinary tract called urethra. Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor formation that occurs as a result of abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of these prostate gland cells. Cancer cells mostly develop from the outer part of the prostate, which we call the shell part. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men. The lifetime risk of men suffering from prostate cancer is 17%.
What are the risk factors of prostate cancer?
Known risk factors for prostate cancer:
Advanced age: While it is very rarely observed under the age of 40, it is observed above the age of 50. The risk of occurrence increases with age. The majority of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65.
Ethnicity: The incidence of prostate cancer is higher in some races around the world.
Genetic predisposition. Approximately 10% of prostate cancers are hereditary, and 15% of those with prostate cancer inherit the disease from their first-degree male relatives. The risk increases if there is a first-degree male relative (father, brother, uncle) with prostate cancer. If there is only one member of the family with prostate cancer, the risk increases 2 times, and if more people have prostate cancer, the risk increases 6-11 times.
Nutrition: The direct effect of nutrition on prostate cancer has not been proven. However, since healthy eating reduces the risk of cancer, consuming unhealthy foods can directly increase the risk of prostate cancer.
From what age should screening be performed for Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer. When detected at an early stage, treatment success is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to make a diagnosis and provide the necessary treatment before it is too late. It is a type of cancer that usually does not cause symptoms in its initial stage. If there is a family history of cancer (for example, in the father), every man must have a prostate examination and blood tests after the age of 40, or after the age of 50 if there is no family history.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Recognizing the disease at an early stage can only cure it. It is possible with direct scanning. Disease symptoms are not characteristic and can also be seen in other prostate diseases. Common symptoms of prostate cancer include: Difficulty urinating, weak urine flow, frequent urination, blood in urine or semen, pain during ejaculation and erection problems. These symptoms may also occur in some other conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and are not obvious signs of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer has spread beyond the organ, as it can often spread to the bone, it can cause severe pain in the waist, hip or leg. Apart from this, it can affect any internal organ and symptoms related to the affected organ may occur.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
With today's screening, prostate cancer can generally be diagnosed at an early stage and before the disease spreads. There are two basic methods: PSA (prostate specific antigen) and digital prostate examination. If either or both are deemed suspicious, a prostate needle biopsy is taken to confirm the diagnosis. If the biopsy results show a tumor, the diagnosis is confirmed.
What is the PSA test?
It is a test that looks at blood. PSA is a protein produced by cells in the prostate, and the higher its amount in the blood, the more advanced the prostate cancer may be. Not every PSA elevation means cancer. For example; PSA may also increase in some cases such as prostatitis, urinary catheterization, and prostate examination.
How is prostate examination done with finger?
The patient is given an appropriate position and the size, shape, consistency-hardness of the prostate, the tissue protrusion called nodule on it, is examined with the finger from the anus. It is investigated whether it is.
How is prostate biopsy performed?
It is performed on suitable and risky patients for prostate cancer. It is applied under local or general anesthesia. With the help of an ultrasound tip inserted rectally, 8-12 pieces are taken from the prostate with a needle. The taken pieces are subjected to pathological examination and whether there is cancer in the tissues and, if there is cancer, the grade (degree of aggressiveness) of the cancer is examined and reported.
Prostate What is MRI?
In recent years, suspicious foci of prostate cancer within the prostate can be identified with MRI. Cancer foci within the prostate are identified with multiparametric prostate MRI, especially in patients who have previously undergone biopsy and whose PSA values are high.
How is staging done in prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer In diagnosed patients, additional imaging methods are needed to find out whether the disease has spread outside the prostate (especially to the bone and lymph nodes). These are;
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Bone scintigraphy
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PSMA PET-CT
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Abdominal CT/ Abdominal MRI
How is prostate cancer treated?
Patients with a definitive diagnosis by biopsy must first be staged. Different treatments may be preferred depending on the cancer's growth rate, degree, spread, the patient's general health condition and the effectiveness of the treatment, as well as possible side effects.
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Hormonotherapy
Chemotherapy
Monitoring
What are the Surgical Treatment options for prostate cancer?
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Open surgery
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Laparoscopic surgery
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Robotic surgery
The aim of the surgical approach is to remove the entire prostate. The oncological and functional results of these three methods are similar.
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