Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men, and fortunately, it can be treated effectively if detected in its early stages. In this article, we will review the symptoms of prostate cancer, its causes, and methods of treatment through the Dalili Medical website.

Is prostate cancer dangerous?

Prostate cancer is characterized by its slow growth, and its symptoms often do not appear until it reaches advanced stages. However, this type of cancer becomes dangerous when it spreads in the body, so it is recommended to conduct periodic examinations for early detection of prostate cancer, especially for people with risk factors.

What is prostate cancer?

It is a common type of cancer that affects men, and it originates in the prostate, which is a small gland that resembles a walnut and produces the seminal fluid that carries sperm. Many cases of prostate cancer develop slowly, and remain confined to the gland without causing significant damage. While there are other cases that are more aggressive and spread quickly. Detecting prostate cancer in its early stages, when it is confined to the gland, increases the chances of successful treatment.

At what age can a man develop early prostate cancer?

Doctors consider age to be an important factor influencing the likelihood of developing prostate cancer, as it is rare for a person under the age of 40 to develop this disease. Early symptoms of prostate cancer usually appear when a man reaches the age of 55, because hormones begin to deteriorate at this age in most cases.

Can young people get prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer usually affects older men, especially those over the age of 68, but there is a small percentage of cases recorded among those under the age of 55. As for young men, prostate cancer is very rare. However, cases have recently been observed among young men, who show some symptoms associated with the disease, but there is no clear reason for this. The reason may be related to genetic or hereditary factors, or perhaps as a result of increased awareness of the disease, which has led to increased early examinations, or it may be related to certain health conditions. All of these factors are currently under study.

How long does a cancer patient's condition deteriorate?

There is no specific time period for a cancer patient's condition to deteriorate, as it depends on the type of cancer and its location in the body. Some patients can live for years even after reaching stage four of the disease.

What are the most dangerous types of cancer in order?

Here is a list of the most dangerous types of cancer that affect men and women, according to statistics conducted in 2023.

The most dangerous types of cancer in men:

1. Lung cancer.

2. Prostate cancer.

3. Colon and rectal cancer.

4. Pancreatic cancer.

5. Liver cancer.

6. Leukemia.

7. Esophageal cancer.

8. Bladder cancer.

9. Lymphoma.

10. Brain and nervous system cancer.

The most dangerous types of cancer that affect women include:

- Lung cancer

- Breast cancer

- Colon and rectal cancer

- Pancreatic cancer

- Uterine and ovarian cancer

- Liver cancer

- Leukemia

- Lymphoma

- Brain cancer

When should you see a doctor for prostate cancer treatment?

Your Medcare doctor can provide you with advice and diagnosis as well as a range of appropriate treatments if you are suspected of having prostate cancer. Many men suffer from this type of cancer without realising it, and they often have no obvious symptoms. However, early diagnosis improves the chances of cure and awareness of appropriate treatment plans. Do not hesitate to contact your local Medcare clinic if you experience any of the signs or symptoms associated with prostate cancer, such as blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, or a weak urine stream.

What is the difference between the symptoms of prostate cancer and prostate enlargement?

It is important to bear in mind that both prostate enlargement and prostate cancer are common diseases among men. One in seven men will develop prostate cancer, while around one or two men in their fifties will suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia. Because prostate cancer and prostate enlargement have similar symptoms and affect urination and sexual function, as well as causing an increase in the size of the prostate gland, it can be difficult to distinguish between them. However, the main difference is that prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body, while prostate enlargement is a benign tumor that does not extend outside the prostate gland. When symptoms of prostate cancer appear, treatment depends on the stage of the disease and how far it has spread, whether it is aggressive or not, in addition to the general condition of the patient and whether she is able to tolerate treatment. Based on these factors, prostate cancer treatment varies from one person to another.

What type of cancer has no cure?

Doctors rely on radiation and chemotherapy to treat cancer or reduce its spread, but there are types of cancer that cannot be cured, as we only control their spread, such as pancreatic cancer, lymphoma, and some types of brain cancer.

Types of prostate cancer

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of prostate cancer, as these cancers arise from the cells of the prostate gland that produce prostatic fluid added to semen.

Other rare types of prostate cancer include:

- Small Cell Carcinomas.

- Neuroendocrine Tumors.

- Transitional Cell Carcinoma.

- Prostate Sarcoma.

Are all prostate diseases indicative of cancer?

No, not all prostate diseases indicative of cancer, but they may cause symptoms that are notProstate cancer is a sign of prostate cancer, so you should go to a male doctor immediately if you show one or more of the previous symptoms.

Prostate diseases include the following:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia:

It affects adults at some point in their lives, especially as they get older, and leads to an enlargement of the prostate gland, but it does not increase the risk of cancer.

Prostatitis:

Prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection that leads to an enlargement, swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland, and usually affects people under 50 years of age.

What are the side effects of prostate cancer treatment?

1. **Urinary incontinence**: Urine may leak when coughing or laughing, or the patient may feel an urgent need to urinate even when the bladder is empty. This problem usually improves within a period of 6 to 12 months without the need for treatment.

2. **Erectile dysfunction (ED)**: Surgery, radiation therapy and other treatments can damage the nerves responsible for erection in the penis, affecting the ability to achieve an erection. It is common for many patients to regain erectile function within a year or two.

3. **Infertility**: Treatments may affect the ability to produce or ejaculate sperm, leading to infertility.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

Knowing the stage of prostate cancer is important for making appropriate treatment decisions. The stages of prostate cancer are divided into the following:

- **Stage 0**: At this stage, the cancer cells are slow-growing and affect only a small area of the prostate gland.

- **Stage I**: This stage is known as the localized cancer stage, where the cancer remains confined to the prostate gland, making treatment effective at this stage.

- **Stages II and III**: These stages are called the regional stage, where the cancer has spread to nearby tissues close to the prostate gland.

- **Stage IV**: This stage is considered the advanced or metastatic prostate cancer stage, where the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the bones and lungs. This stage is also known as metastatic prostate cancer.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

At first, prostate cancer may not show any symptoms until it starts to increase in size, putting pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Then the following symptoms may appear:

- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night.

- Difficulty starting urination.

- Taking a long time to finish urinating.

- Constant feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.

- Blood in the urine or semen.

- Pain during ejaculation sometimes.

- Pain when sitting sometimes due to the enlargement of the prostate.

If the cancer spreads outside the prostate, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

- Pain in the testicles.

- Pain in the lower back.

- Pain in the bones or easy fractures.

- Swelling in the legs or feet.

- Unexplained weight loss.

It is important to note that the appearance of these symptoms does not necessarily mean cancer, as they may be caused by natural factors such as aging or the presence of benign enlargement.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is not cancer, and it cannot turn into cancer, but it may happen that the patient suffers from an enlarged prostate with the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate.

Therefore, visiting a specialist doctor when feeling these symptoms in their early stages is very important, as it helps determine their causes and thus know the appropriate way to deal with them.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Examinations and tests contribute to the early detection of prostate cancer, and adults are usually advised to undergo the first examination at around the age of fifty.

Diagnostic tests include the following:

1. **Digital rectal examination**: The doctor inserts his finger, after wearing a medical glove, into the rectum to be able to touch the prostate gland. If he feels hard areas or lumps, this may be an indication of the possibility of cancer.

2. **Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test**: The prostate gland produces a protein known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). High levels of it in the blood may indicate the possibility of cancer, but it should be noted that these levels may also increase in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia or inflammation, which makes this test not entirely accurate.

3. **MRI or ultrasound**: The imaging is performed through the rectum, as it provides images of the prostate gland and the lumps in it. Through these images, the doctor can determine whether the patient needs a biopsy.

4. **Biopsy**: It is considered the only sure way to diagnose prostate cancer and determine its severity. During this process, the doctor takes a sample of tissue to be examined in oncology laboratories.

Risk factors for prostate cancer

Factors that may increase the likelihood of prostate cancer include the following:

- **Age**: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, as it is more common after the age of fifty.

- **Race**: For unknown reasons, men of African descent show a higher susceptibility to prostate cancer compared to men of other races, and the lesions may be more aggressive or advanced.

- **Family history**: If a family member has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk may increase.

- **Obesity**: It is thought that people who are obese may be more likely to develop prostate cancer than those who are at a healthy weight, although studies on this topic have shown mixed results.

**Complications of prostate cancer**

Complications of prostate cancer and its treatments include:

- **Spread ofCancer**: When prostate cancer spreads, it may continue to respond to treatment and can be controlled, but it is unlikely to be completely cured.

- **Urinary incontinence**: Prostate cancer and its treatments can cause urinary incontinence. Treatment depends on the type of incontinence, its severity, and the likelihood of improvement.

- **Erectile dysfunction**: It can be a result of prostate cancer or treatments used, such as surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy.

**Prevention of prostate cancer**

You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer with some simple lifestyle changes:

- **Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains**: A balanced diet helps provide essential vitamins and minerals and promotes overall health.

- **Choose whole foods instead of supplements**: It is better to rely on a healthy, unprocessed diet instead of supplements.

- **Exercise regularly**: Regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

- **Maintain a healthy weight**: A healthy weight helps reduce the risk of many diseases.

- **Preventive medications**: If you are at high risk of prostate cancer, you can discuss medication options with your doctor to reduce that risk.

**Prostate cancer treatment**

Prostate cancer treatment options are determined by a number of factors, such as how fast the tumor is growing, whether it has spread, and the patient’s overall health. The potential benefits of treatment and side effects are also taken into account. In some cases, early-stage prostate cancer may not require immediate treatment, or treatment may not be needed at all. In these cases, careful monitoring — through regular blood tests, rectal exams, and prostate biopsies — may be enough.

If tests show cancer, you may choose to treat prostate cancer, such as surgery or radiation therapy.

**Prostatectomy**

Surgery is an option for treating cancer that is limited to the prostate. Sometimes, surgery is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in combination with other treatments. Prostate cancer surgery includes radical prostatectomy, in which the prostate gland, some surrounding tissue, and lymph nodes are removed.

**Radiation therapy**

Radiation therapy uses high-energy energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy methods can include:

- **External radiation**: High-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, are directed at the body to kill cancer and relieve symptoms such as pain. This treatment may continue daily for several weeks.

- **Brachytherapy**: This method involves placing radioactive seeds the size of a grain of rice inside the prostate tissue, delivering a low, controlled dose of radiation over a period of time. Brachytherapy is an option for treating cancer that has not spread outside the prostate.

- **Both types of treatment**: In some cases, doctors may recommend both external and internal radiation therapy.

**Heating or freezing**

Heat or cold can be used to treat prostate tissue in cases of very small prostate cancer when surgery is not an option.

Prostate tissue freezing, also known as cryoablation or cryotherapy, is a procedure that involves freezing prostate tissue with an extremely cold gas, which kills cancer cells.

High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy uses focused ultrasound energy to heat prostate tissue, destroying it.

Hormone therapy aims to stop the body from producing the male hormone testosterone, which prostate cancer cells need to grow.

Hormone therapy options include:

- Medications that reduce testosterone production.

- Anti-androgen medications, which block testosterone from reaching cancer cells.

- Orchiectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the testicles, which results in a rapid and noticeable drop in testosterone levels.

Chemotherapy

Uses medications to kill fast-growing cells

Can be delivered through a vein in the arm, in pill form, or both

Is a treatment option for metastatic prostate cancer

Is an option for those cancers that do not respond to hormone therapy

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Prostate cancer immunotherapy can include:

Genetic engineering of your cells to fight cancer: The treatment sibiuluicel-T takes immune cells, genetically engineers them to fight prostate cancer, and then injects them back into the body.

Helping immune system cells identify cancer cells: This type of immunotherapy drug is an option for treating advanced prostate cancers that don’t respond to hormone therapy.

**Robotic radical prostatectomy**

The surgeon makes several small incisions in the patient’s abdomen to insert the robotic scope, then controls the robotic arms while sitting at a computer screen. He begins by separating the prostate from the bladder and urethra, taking care to preserve sensitive nerve tissue, then removes the prostate through one of the incisions. Your oncologist will recommend annual checkups and monitoring of your prostate after recovery to detect any possible recurrence of cancer at an early stage, known as “active surveillance” or “vigilance.”

**Focal therapy**

This treatment aims to destroy tumors within the prostate, and your doctor may recommend it in the early stages of the disease.

**Focused UltrasoundHigh-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)**

This technique uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to generate intense heat that kills cancer cells inside the prostate.