Prostate Cancer

      Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland important in male reproduction. Cancer occurs when cells that form the basic building blocks of the prostate multiply out of control. These cells may spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer can cause severe pain, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, difficulty urinating and can result in death.

      Prostate cancer only occurs in men and develops most frequently in individuals over fifty years old. It is the second most common type of cancer in men and is responsible for more deaths than any cancer except for lung cancer. However, many men who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and die of unrelated illness. Many things, including diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer but, as of 2005, it is not a preventable disease.

      Prostate cancer is most often discovered by screening blood tests (such as prostate specific antigen) or by physical examination of the prostate gland by a health care provider. Confirmation of prostate cancer is typically accomplished by removing a piece of the prostate (biopsy) and examining it under a microscope. Further tests, such as X-rays and bone scans, may be performed to determine whether prostate cancer has spread.

      Prostate cancer can be treated with surgery, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, occasionally chemotherapy, or a combination thereof. The age and underlying health of the individual, as well as the extent of spread, appearance under the microscope, and response of the cancer to initial treatment are important in determining the outcome of the disease. Since prostate cancer is a disease of older men, many men will die of other causes before the prostate cancer can spread or cause symptoms; this makes selecting treatment options difficult.

Tests used for staging of prostate cancer

Radionuclide bone scan: A procedure to check if there are rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, in the bone. A very small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream. The radioactive material collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
Pelvic lymphadenectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the lymph nodes in the pelvis. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
Seminal vesicle biopsy: The removal of fluid from the seminal vesicles (glands that produce semen) using a needle. A pathologist views the fluid under a microscope to look for cancer cells.