Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, with more than
200,000 new diagnoses each year.17 Prostate cancer occurs when the cells in the
prostate gland grow out of control. When cells grow out of control, they spread within the
prostate and then grow through the capsule that covers the prostate into neighboring
organs, or break away and to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer can be relatively
harmless or extremely aggressive. Some prostate cancers are slow growing, causing
few clinical symptoms. Aggressive cancers spread rapidly to the lymph nodes, other
organs and especially, bone.
For many men, the first indication of prostate cancer is a higher than normal PSA (prostate-specific
antigen) test. PSA is a protein that is normally produced by the prostate. High levels of
PSA in the blood sometimes indicate prostate cancer, although conditions other than
cancer can also cause high PSA levels. Men who have an elevated PSA test often
undergo additional tests, such as a prostate biopsy, to determine whether cancer is
present.
Treatment of prostate cancer will depend on the stage of the disease.
Stage I: The cancer is confined within the prostate and not detectable with a physical examination.
Stage II: The cancer is more advanced than Stage I, but is still confined within the prostate.
Stage III: The cancer extends through the capsule of tissue that surrounds the prostate
and may involve the seminal vesicles (nearby glands that help produce semen).
Stage IV: The cancer involves lymph nodes and/or organs or structures outside the
prostate other than the seminal vesicles.
American Cancer Society: About Staging
Treatment of prostate cancer varies widely, depending on the stage and characteristics
of the cancer and the preferences of your patient. Patients may receive watchful waiting
(observation without active treatment until symptoms appear or change), surgery,
radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, or chemotherapy. It is important for patients to remember that
treatment is determined by the stage and other specific characteristics of the cancer.
Patients should speak with their doctor to discuss the individual risks and benefits of
each treatment option.
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