What is Prostate Cancer- Symptoms & Treatment Options at World Class Hospitals in India

A man with prostate cancer may not have any symptoms. Symptoms of prostate cancer are often similar to those of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Men observing the following signs and/or symptoms should see their physician for a thorough examination:

• Urinary problems – Not being able to pass urine • Having a hard time starting or stopping the urine flow
• Needing to urinate often, especially at night
• Weak flow of urine
• Urine flow that starts and stops
• Pain or burning during urination
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated.

Your doctor can check for prostate cancer before you have any symptoms. During an office visit, your doctor will ask about your personal and family medical history. You’ll have a physical exam. You may also have one or both of the following tests:

Digital rectal exam: Your doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels your prostate through the rectal wall. Your prostate is checked for hard or lumpy areas.

Blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA): A lab checks the level of PSA in your blood sample. The prostate makes PSA. A high PSA level is commonly caused by BPH or prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate). Prostate cancer may also cause a high PSA level. The digital rectal exam and PSA test can detect a problem in the prostate. However, they can’t show whether the problem is cancer or a less serious condition. If you have abnormal test results, your doctor may suggest other tests to make a diagnosis.

Transrectal ultrasound: The doctor inserts a probe into the rectum to check your prostate for abnormal areas. It also measures the size of the prostate, which can help to determine if the PSA level is elevated for the size of the prostate. The probe sends out sound waves that people cannot hear (ultrasound). The waves bounce off the prostate. A computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram.

Transrectal biopsy: A biopsy is the removal of tissue to look for cancer cells. It’s the only sure way to diagnose prostate cancer. The doctor inserts needles through the rectum into the prostate. The doctor removes small tissue samples (called cores) from many areas of the prostate. Transrectal ultrasound is usually used to guide the insertion of the needles. A pathologist checks the tissue samples for cancer cells.

Men with prostate cancer have many treatment options. The treatment that’s best for one man may not be best for another. Your doctor will make recommendations that are best for each individual. The options include active surveillance (also called watchful waiting), surgery, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. You may have a combination of treatments. The treatment that’s right for you depends mainly on your age, the grade of the tumor (the Gleason score), the number of biopsy tissue samples that contain cancer cells, the stage of the cancer, your symptoms, and your general health. Your doctor can describe your treatment choices, the expected results of each, and the possible side effects. You and your doctor can work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your medical and personal needs.

Surgery: Surgery is an option for men with early (Stage I or II) prostate cancer. It’s sometimes an option for men with Stage III or IV prostate cancer. Before the surgeon removes the prostate, the lymph nodes in the pelvis may be removed. If prostate cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, the disease may have spread to other parts of the body. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the surgeon does not always remove the prostate and may suggest other types of treatment. After removing the prostate, the bladder is reconnected to the urethra (tube that men urinate through). Once healed, this will allow men to urinate normally. There are several types of surgery for prostate cancer. Each type has benefits and risks. You and your doctor can talk about the types of surgery and which may be right for you:

Robotic laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon removes the entire prostate through small cuts (1/4″ – ½” in size). A laparoscope and a robot are used to help remove the prostate. Instruments are passed through the small cuts and are used to remove the prostate. The surgeon uses handles below a computer display to control the robot’s arms.

• Open surgery: The surgeon makes a large incision (cut) into your body to remove the tumor. There are two approaches:
• Through the abdomen: The surgeon removes the entire prostate through a cut in the abdomen. The incision typically is from the umbilicus (belly button) down to the pelvic bone. This is called a radical retropubic prostatectomy.
• Between the scrotum and anus: The surgeon removes the entire prostate through a cut between the scrotum and the anus. This is called a radical perineal prostatectomy.

Laparoscopic prostatectomy: The surgeon removes the entire prostate through small cuts (1/4″ – ½” in size), rather than a single long cut in the abdomen. A thin, lighted tube (a laparoscope) helps the surgeon see. Other instruments are passed through the small cuts. These instruments are used to remove the prostate.

Laser TURP: A man with advanced prostate cancer may choose TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) to relieve symptoms. The surgeon inserts a long, thin scope through the urethra. A cutting tool at the end of the scope removes tissue from the inside of the prostate. TURP may not remove all of the cancer, but it can remove tissue that blocks the flow of urine. After surgery, a catheter (flexible tube) is often left through the penis into the bladder. This allows the area to heal where the bladder and urethra are reconnected. Oftentimes patients only have to stay in the hospital overnight and can go home the following day. With newer surgical techniques, the complications from surgery are significantly reduced.

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