What Is Prostate Cancer?

What is Prostate Cancer?

The purpose of this paper is to educate men of all ages about prostate cancer. This awareness is crucial if society is going to eradicate this terrible disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men. It is, in essence, the male counterpart of breast cancer and can sometimes lead to difficult decisions and unexpected consequences. This is a very common disease of men over 55, and its course is often indolent. It is believed that cancer is caused by changes in DNA. The reason for this is, that some parts of DNA give instructions to the cells about growth and division (Barrett, D. M., 2002). This is a debilitating disease that attacks men, has many unpleasant stages and symptoms, and warrants careful diagnosis and treatment for increased survival rates. Men over a certain age should be more aware of the disease. Treatment and screenings, however, are controversial because often undue harm occurs that adversely affects the quality of life.

Men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) may be at increased risk of prostate cancer. These prostate cells look abnormal under a microscope. Researchers have found specific regions on certain chromosomes that are linked to the risk of prostate cancer (Barrett, D. M., 2002). According to recent studies, if a man has a genetic change in one or more of these regions, the risk of prostate cancer may be increased. The risk increases with the number of genetic changes that are found. Other studies have shown an elevated risk of among men with changes in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 (NCI, n.d.).

Having a risk factor does not mean that a man will develop the disease. Most men who have risk factors never develop the disease. "About 240,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year" (NCI, n.d.), but because this disease grows slowly, many men do not develop any visible symptoms.

Prostate cancer is predominantly a disease of men between 50 and 72 years at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis. Estimated new cases and deaths from prostate cancer in the United States in 2011: 240,890, Deaths: 33,720 (Barrett, D. M. 2002).

A male sex gland, the prostate is a small gland located below the bladder. The function of the gland is to collect and empty urine, and it also creates fluids that make up semen. Affected by sex hormones, the prostate helps to control healthy sperm production.

The diagnosis of prostate cancer may occur with multiple modalities including imaging, notably Ultrasound, Biopsy, CAT scan, and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and a blood test known as the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) (Grimm et al, 2003).

When doctors are checking patients for prostate cancer, they refer to three main zones of the prostate peripheral, transition, and central (What is Prostate Cancer,n.d.). The peripheral zone is larger than the other two zones; it points to the area that presses against the rectum. The transition zone is the small, innermost part of the prostate that wraps around the urethra. Any problems occurring in this region can make passing urine difficult. The third area is known as the central zone because it lies between the peripheral and transition zones. Doctors use these zones to diagnose cases of prostate cancer accurately. It is through abnormalities in cell division that cancer comes into play, Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division.

There are four key types of abnormal genes that are responsible for abnormal cell division processes, the first is oncogenes that tell cells when to divide and mutations in these genes cause uncontrolled division. The second type is the, tumor suppressor genes that in their normal state, prevent cells from forming tumors but when mutated cause the formation of tumors. The third type of genes is the suicide genes that control apoptosis, also called programmed cell death. And tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong. Finally, DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA (What Causes Cancer? n.d.). With abnormalities in these various gene types, tumor form. The tumor can either be benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not spread like the malignant ones. When a malignant tumor spreads, it is called metastasis. Prostate cancer occurs when a malignant tumor is found in the prostate gland. (What Causes Cancer? n.d.)

There are three types of prostate disease: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland. It is not cancerous, It affects half of all men younger than 50 and 80% of men older than 60 (Grimm, Blasko, and Sylvester, 2004). Symptoms include dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, and urinary tract infections. Prostatitis is when the gland is inflamed because of a bacterial infection. This disease affects men of all ages that have a sized prostate. Some of the symptoms for prostatitis are the same with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The symptoms for prostatitis include: pain, burning during urination, chills and fever, accompanied with urinating problems, difficulty urinating, and an urge to urinate even when the bladder is empty. Prostate cancer in some of early stages may not have any symptoms but as time goes on some things may begin to show (Barrett, D.M. 2002). Prostate cancer shares the above symptoms and may also manifest with, weight loss, decreased appetite, painful ejaculation, and frequent pain, stiffness in the back, hips, and upper thighs. Although the survival rate for most prostate cancer patients has increased due to early diagnosis and treatments. Some preventative treatment may include, increased exercising, and eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish. Maintaining a healthy weight also can help. There are still many uncontrollable risk factors such as genetics. Genetics plays