The most prevalent cancer among U.S. men is prostate cancer, which is caused by abnormal changes in the DNA of cells within the prostate gland. Thankfully, medical innovations now ensure that most prostate cancer deaths can be prevented with today’s screening methods and cancer treatments for prostate cancer.
Screening for prostate cancer typically begins when patients are impacted by the following prostate cancer risk factors:
- Males over the age of 60 or 65-years old.
- Hereditary 20% of patients with a family history of prostate cancer are likely to inherit it.
Common screenings for prostate cancer include the following:
- PSA testing
If your doctors suspects you may have prostate cancer, he or she will begin screening with a PSA, or prostate-specific antigen blood test that tests for high levels of a chemical substance, known as PSA, which may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
- Advanced age
Prostate cancer screening tests are highly recommended for men between 50 and 70-years of age.
- Signs of symptoms
The visible symptoms of prostate cancer are usually found in the blood, the urine, and semen. However, frequent urination, urinary disruptions, the constant urge to empty the bladder, and pain during urination are also common signs of prostate cancer.
Treatments for prostate cancer
- Surveillance
In the early stages of prostate cancer, symptoms can be difficult to identify as they are very mild. Because prostate cancer can take years to develop, many doctors will advise delaying treatment due to the associated side effects. This stage of treatment is referred to as surveillance, when doctors closely monitored patients for worsening symptoms of prostate cancer. Once the cancer becomes acute, treatment will begun without any further delay.
- Vaccine Treatment
Vaccine therapy varies from patient to patient, but side effects are a big risk factor.
- Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy for men affected by prostate cancer is applied only when surgery or radiation fails to cure them.
- Surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer is common in the event of non spreading cancer outside the prostate gland.
- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer is applied when the cancer is still in its early stages and efficiency to cure varies from patient to patient.
- Radical Prostatectomy
This surgery involves the removal of the entire gland along with some surrounding tissues.
