Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men globally and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It affects over 50% of countries and is primarily diagnosed through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate tissue biopsies.
Etiology
Age, race, obesity, and family history are the main known leading causes of prostate cancer. Age-related increases in the overall incidence are common, but the severity of cancer tends to decline with age.
Male gender, height, obesity, high blood pressure, lack of activity, consistently high testosterone levels, exposure to (Agent Orange), and ethnicity are additional risk factors for prostate cancer.
Early symptoms
- Prostate cancer in its early stages usually has no symptoms. However, it can occasionally result in symptoms including hematuria, dysuria, trouble starting and maintaining a steady flow, frequent urination, and nocturia, which are similar to those of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- Problems with sexual function and performance, like trouble getting an erection or painful ejaculation, can also be linked to prostate cancer.
Advanced Symptoms of Terminal Prostate Cancer:
- A rock-hard prostate strongly suggests that the disease is at least locally progressed.
- Spinal cord compression brought on by prostate cancer can result in tingling, leg weakness, discomfort, paralysis, and incontinence in the urine and feces.
- Severe bone pain, usually in the back (vertebrae), pelvis, hips, or ribs, might be a symptom of metastatic prostate cancer.
- The proximal portion of the bone is usually where the spread into the femur occurs.
How Prostate Cancer Progresses in Late Stages
The bloodstream can carry prostate cancer cells from the prostate to other areas of the body. Alternatively, they may spread to the lymph nodes close to the prostate before moving on to other areas of your body via the lymphatic vessels. Your body has lymph nodes and lymph vessels, which are part of your lymphatic system.
The lymph nodes and bones are where prostate cancer most frequently spreads. The bladder, ureters, urethra, and some parts of the colon (the rectum) may also be affected. The liver and lungs are among the other organs where prostate cancer can spread. However, this is less frequent.
Recognizing the Final Signs of Prostate Cancer.
- Excessive fatigue and pain
- Urinary tract problems
- Bowel symptoms
- Fractured bones
- Concerns regarding sexuality
- Accumulation of fluid, or lymphoedema
- Low levels of red blood cells (anemia)
- Spinal cord compression with metastases (MSCC)
- Hypercalcemia, or elevated calcium levels, can cause symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty emptying your intestines (constipation), and nausea and vomiting.
- Weight loss and eating disorders.
- In the final weeks and months of their lives, some men experience an increase in these issues. Others discover that preexisting issues worsen.
Read Also: How to Stop Frequent Urination in Diabetes?
Treatment options & future research:
- Only a small percentage of patients benefit from the current prostate cancer treatments, which also include several adverse reactions that eventually lower most patients’ quality of life. One of the negative side effects of hormone therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy is drug resistance, which continues to be a barrier to anticancer treatment.
- Research on the use of nanotechnology, gene therapy, and a variety of medicinal plants has shown promise in restoring chemosensitivity in resistant tumor cells and minimizing adverse effects.
- Prostate cancer treatment options that show promise include targeted therapies based on cellular pathways, genetic material encased in target-specific nanocarriers with controlled release, and medicinal plant fractions and chemicals.
Prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment require a multidisciplinary team including nurses, oncologists, radiation therapists, genetic counselors, and urologists to address complex and controversial issues.
References:
Leslie, S. W., Soon-Sutton, T. L., & Skelton, W. P. (2024). Prostate cancer. In StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470550/.
Sekhoacha, M., Riet, K., Motloung, P., Gumenku, L., Adegoke, A., & Mashele, S. (2022). Prostate Cancer Review: Genetics, Diagnosis, Treatment Options, and Alternative Approaches. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(17), 5730. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27175730
