Learn About Prostate Cancer

What is the definition of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.

What are the alternative names for Prostate Cancer?

Cancer - prostate; Biopsy - prostate; Prostate biopsy; Gleason score

What are the different types of Prostate Cancer?

Common conditions include: Familial Prostate Cancer

What are the causes of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.

People who are at high risk include:

  • African American men, who are also more likely to develop this cancer at every age
  • Men age 60 years and above
  • Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer

Other people at risk include:

  • Men who have been exposed to Agent Orange
  • Men who eat a diet high in fat, especially animal fat
  • Obese men

Prostate cancer is less common in people who do not eat meat (vegetarians).

A common problem in almost all men as they grow older is an enlarged prostate that affects their urinary function. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It does not raise your risk for prostate cancer. But, it can increase your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test result.

What are the symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

With early prostate cancer, there are often no symptoms.

The PSA blood test may be done to screen men for prostate cancer. Often, the PSA level rises before there are any symptoms.

The symptoms listed below can occur with prostate cancer as it grows larger in the prostate. These symptoms can also be caused by other prostate problems:

  • Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream
  • Dribbling or leakage of urine, most often after urinating
  • Slow urinary stream
  • Straining when urinating, or not being able to empty all of the urine
  • Blood in the urine or semen

When the cancer has spread, there may be bone pain or tenderness, most often in the lower back and pelvic bones.

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What are the current treatments for Prostate Cancer?

Treatment depends on many things, including your Gleason score and your overall health. Your doctor will discuss your treatment options with you.

If the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland, common treatments include:

  • Surgery (radical prostatectomy)
  • Radiation therapy, including brachytherapy, external beam therapy, and proton therapy

If you are older, your doctor may recommend simply monitoring the cancer with PSA tests and biopsies. This is called active surveillance.

Hormone therapy is mainly used for cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. It helps relieve symptoms and prevents further growth and spread of the cancer. But it does not cure the cancer.

If prostate cancer spreads even after hormone therapy, surgery, or radiation has been tried, treatment may include:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy (medicine to trigger the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells)

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy can affect your sexual performance. Problems with urine control are possible after surgery and radiation therapy. Discuss your concerns with your health care provider.

After treatment for prostate cancer, you will be closely watched to make sure the cancer does not spread. This involves routine checkups, including PSA blood tests (usually every 3 months to 1 year).

Who are the top Prostate Cancer Local Doctors?
Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology

Washington University

5225 Mid America Plz, 
Saint Louis, MO 
 93.6 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Jeff Michalski is a Radiation Oncologist in Saint Louis, Missouri. Dr. Michalski and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Prostate Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Prostate Cancer, Familial Prostate Cancer, Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, and Prostatectomy. Dr. Michalski is currently accepting new patients.

Urology Of St. Louis

Saint Louis, IL 
 92.4 mi
Urology Of St. Louis
Offers Telehealth

Christopher Vulin is an Urologist in Saint Louis, Illinois. Dr. Vulin and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Prostate Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Prostate Cancer, Familial Prostate Cancer, UPJ Obstruction, Ureteroscopy, and Prostatectomy.

 
 
 
 
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Mercy Hospital Perry

206 Hospital Ln, 
Perryville, MO 
 60.6 mi

Mitchell Ogles is an Urologist in Perryville, Missouri. Dr. Ogles and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Prostate Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Perirenal Abscess, Boils, Urinary Tract Infection in Children, Ureteroscopy, and Bladder Reconstruction.

What are the support groups for Prostate Cancer?

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a prostate cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Prostate Cancer?

How well you do depends on whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland and how abnormal the cancer cells are (the Gleason score) when you are diagnosed.

A cure is possible if the cancer has not spread. Hormone treatment can improve survival, even if a cure is not possible.

When should I contact a medical professional for Prostate Cancer?

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of PSA screening with your provider.

How do I prevent Prostate Cancer?

Talk with your provider about possible ways to lower your risk for prostate cancer. These may include lifestyle measures, such as diet and exercise.

There are no medicines approved by the FDA for preventing prostate cancer.

What are the latest Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials?
A Phase II Trial of Focal Ultrahypofractionated Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Unifocal Prostate Cancer

Background: The current standard treatment of prostate cancer is either surgery or radiation. Typically, this includes either the removal or radiation of the whole prostate gland. Many people now seek out focal therapy options to decrease the side effects of treatment. Until now, several forms of physical destruction with heat (thermal ablation), cold (cryotherapy), sound waves (HIFU), laser (FLA), and electr...

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Posluma (18F-rhPSMA) PET Guided Radiotherapy Planning in Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Study Evaluating POSLUMA PET Tumor Detection on Radiation Therapy Planning and on BGRT Planning on the RefleXion X1 System

Summary: This clinical trial evaluates \[18F\]-rh PSMA positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) imaging performance in patients with prostate cancer. PET is an established imaging technique that utilizes small amounts of radioactivity attached to very minimal amounts of tracer, in the case of this research, 18F-rhPSMA. Because some cancers take up \[18F\]-rhPSMA, cancer cells can be seen...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: July 01, 2023
Published By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

National Cancer Institute website. Prostate cancer treatment (PDQ) health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/hp/prostate-treatment-pdq. Updated February 13, 2023. Accessed July 17, 2023.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): Prostate cancer. Version 4.2023. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/prostate.pdf. Updated September 7, 2023. Accessed October 6, 2023.

Nelson WG, Antonarakis ES, Carter HB, De Marzo AM, DeWeese TL. Prostate cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 81.

Stephenson AJ, Abouassaly R, Klein EA. Epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of prostate cancer. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 148.

US Preventive Services Task Force; Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al. Screening for prostate cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;319(18):1901-1913. PMID: 29801017 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29801017/.

Wei JT, Barocas D, Carlsson S, et al. Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA/SUO guideline part I: prostate cancer screening. J Urol. 2023;210(1):45-53. www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/early-detection-of-prostate-cancer-guidelines.

Wei JT, Barocas D, Carlsson S, et al. Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA/SUO guideline part II: considerations for a prostate biopsy. J Urol. 2023;210(1):54-63. www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/early-detection-of-prostate-cancer-guidelines.