A look into Prostate Cancer
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer ranks as the most common primary malignant tumor in males and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among them.
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly and is initially limited to the prostate gland. Some forms of prostate cancer can be very aggressive and metastasize rapidly. If detected early, it has very good prospects for effective treatment.
It is during this early phase that the ultrasound technology can be used by sonographers to assess the appearance and measure the prostate gland, detecting if its volume lies within the suggested limits and reporting any other potential abnormalities.
At East Anglia Ultrasound Services, our experienced, highly qualified and specialised Sonographers, assess the prostate gland during the Lower Abdominal Ultrasound scan or Upper & Lower Abdominal scan. This can be combined with a PSA blood test on the same day of the appointment for a comprehensive check.
We have same week availability in both of our clinics in Cambridge and Norwich.
Prostate cancer usually has no early symptoms. At a more advanced stage, symptoms such as difficulty urinating, bone pain, erectile dysfunction, blood in the semen, and reduced urinary flow may appear.
Risk factors for developing prostate cancer are: age, race, family history, and obesity.
Side effects that can occur due to prostate cancer are metastases (bladder, bones), urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
The diagnosis of prostate cancer is made by the competent doctor. Clinical examination and imaging testing with rectal examination and PSA testing via blood test are required.
If necessary, an additional ultrasound check, prostatic tissue sample collection - biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging are performed.
Prostate biopsy
Prostate biopsy is recommended either based on abnormal ultrasound findings, elevated PSA test results or if a hardness is detected by the doctor during the clinical examination. The biopsy is done using ultrasound through an imaging instrument inserted into the anus that shows the prostate in detail.
Staging of prostate cancer
With the tests, it is established at which stage the cancer is and therefore, what is the appropriate treatment for it. The stages are as follows:
Stage 1: It is the initial stage, where the cancer is limited to a small area of the prostate. When examined in the laboratory, the cancer cells are not aggressive.
Stage 2: The cancer is in its early stages, but can be classified as aggressive when examined under a microscope. Alternatively, at this stage the cancer is larger and has grown on both sides of the prostate gland.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread beyond the prostate to nearby tissues.
Stage 4: The cancer has spread to nearby organs such as the bladder, lymph nodes, bones, lungs, or elsewhere.
Treatment options for prostate cancer
At a very early stage and when the cancer is very limited, no treatment may be needed, only strict and regular monitoring. In any case, it is the doctor who must judge what to apply to the patient, based on the patient's overall history and age.
The treatments applied are:
Surgery: Total prostatectomy - involves removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue and lymph nodes
Radiotherapy: External radiation, brachytherapy
Hormone therapy: Drug treatment that stops the body from producing testosterone, or blocks the passage of testosterone to cancer cells and helps them reproduce
Orchiectomy: Decreases testosterone levels in the body
Cryosurgery or cryotherapy: Use of cold air to cool the surrounding tissues
Chemotherapy: Destroys cancer cells - enters the body through a vein or pills
Biological therapy - immunotherapy: Uses the person's own immune system to fight cancer
Tips for preventing prostate cancer
To prevent the disease, choose a Mediterranean diet based on fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, maintain a stable and healthy body weight and talk to your doctor about whether you belong to a high-risk group and what exactly you should watch out for.
Prostate cancer and nutrition
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy should follow a very specific diet for prostate cancer. This diet aims to strengthen the body's defences and improve the quality of life.
The diet recommended by dietitians is intended to address the weight loss often found in cancer patients and the side effects of treatments. Also, in cases where patients have gained weight during chemotherapy due to hormone-dependent cancer, such as breast cancer, an immune-enhancing and weight loss diet is recommended.
