PROSTATE
CANCER CRYOTHERAPY
Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of
Prostate Cancer
When prostate cancer first develops,
it is confined to the prostate gland. In most
men, prostate cancer will not cause early symptoms.
Cancer growing inside the prostate usually causes
no symptoms because of its slow growth. Until
the cancer grows large enough to begin affecting
other organs, such as the bladder or urethra,
early symptoms of prostate cancer will likely
not exist. In order to achieve the best potential
prostate cancer treatment, such as cryosurgery,
prostate cancer must be caught before symptoms
occur.
Testing for Prostate Cancer
With the advent of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause symptoms. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. While it is normal for men to have low levels of PSA in their blood, increased PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer signs and symptoms. PSA test results do not give doctors enough information alone to distinguish between prostate cancer and benign prostate conditions. Conversely, a low level of PSA does not rule out the possibility of prostate cancer and symptoms. However, most cases of early prostate cancer are found with a PSA blood test.
Lumps on the backside of the prostate gland, caused by the buildup of cancer cells in the prostate, can be discovered through a digital rectal exam (DRE). The prostate gland lies in front of the rectum. This allows doctors to feel the prostate in order to check for abnormalities in shape or size of the prostate. The American Cancer Society advises annual testing at age 50 and at age 45 to men who are at high risk, such as African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer.
A prostate ultrasound or biopsy
will evaluate the abnormal results of a digital
rectal exam or an elevated PSA blood test. The
prostate ultrasound involves a probe inserted
a short distance into the rectum. A harmless sound
wave is recorded and transformed into video or
photographic images of the prostate gland. The
prostate biopsy uses transrectal ultrasound imaging
to guide several small needles through the rectum
into abnormal areas of the prostate. The needles
remove a small amount of tissue from the prostate
to be analyzed. If identified as cancer, the doctor
will be able to rate and determine the likelihood
of spreading and effectively determine possible
treatments, such as cryosurgery
(also known as cryotherapy
or cryoablation),
a minimally invasive surgery.
Advanced Prostate Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Some men, however, will experience symptoms of late stage prostate cancer symptoms including:
• Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream
• Painful or burning urination
• Painful ejaculation
• Difficulty in having an erection
• Blood in urine or semen
While these can be associated with prostate cancer, they are more likely to be associated with other, non-cancerous conditions. Men experiencing any of these symptoms and signs of prostate cancer will undergo a thorough check-up to determine the underlying cause of these prostate cancer symptoms.
More serious symptoms of last stage
prostate cancer include lymph node metastasis
and bone metastasis. These symptoms of advanced
prostate cancer may cause stiffness or frequent
soreness in the lower back, hips, and thighs;
with some experiencing more pain than others.
There are two types of lymph node metastasis:
local and distant. Local involves two lymph nodes
on either side of the bladder. If cancerous cells
begin to grow in any other lymph node, the metastasis
is considered distant. Bone metastasis involves
prostate cancer cells that spread to the bone
and begin to interfere with the normal health
and strength of the bones.
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