Cancer Information

Provenge Fights Prostate Cancer

Prostate is a walnut sized gland which forms the male reproductive system. Prostate glands main function is to produce thin, milky alkaline fluid which energizes the sperm. As age increases, the males become more prone to prostate cancer. The Prostate cancer symptoms and signs may not be observed in its early stage. The mostly observed signs and symptoms are blood in urine (hematuria), blood in semen, trouble while urinating, pain while urination, decreased force in the stream of urine, pain in the bone, swelling in your legs etc. As the prostate size/volume increases it creates pressure on the urethra (through which urine passes) which then leads to the above mentioned prostate cancer symptoms.
Prostate cancer can be diagnosed through elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in blood. The prostate cancer symptoms may not give the exact idea and so for that one has to undergo PSA test which confirms cancer. Depending upon how far the cancer has progressed, it has been divided into four stages for better diagnosis. There are 4 different Prostate cancer stages viz. Stage A, Stage B, Stage C and Stage D.
Prostate cancer stage A: This is the first stage where the prostate cancer has been diagnosed in the early stage and is usually curable.
Prostate cancer stage B: During this next stage, the cancer can be felt on rectal examination and is most probably curable.
Prostate cancer stage C: In this stage the cancer has developed beyond the capsule of the prostate which is determined through digital rectal examination (DRE).
Prostate cancer stage D: In this higher stage, the cancer has already spread across many areas like the lymph nodes, bones etc. Due to the late diagnosis, the cancer here is not curable but can be treated partially.
In order to overcome this cancer, the Prostate cancer surgery can be one of the options. Cryosurgery is the treatment where the cancerous cells are frozen and thawed which in return results into the killing of the cancerous cell. The patient who cannot tolerate the surgery from them this treatment is the better option. The other option for prostate cancer surgery is a hormonal therapy but this may have higher risk for developing blood clots. Prior to cryosurgery one has to undergo Trans-rectal ultrasound examination and prostate biopsy which determines the size of prostate. We cannot say that prostate cancer surgery is the best option as it has many side effects. There are many allopathic as well as herbal medications available which helps reducing the prostate cancer symptoms.

Tags: Prostate cancer stages, Prostate cancer surgery, Prostate cancer symptoms