Washington Publishers

The Health Gazette

Click here to visit our Parenting Forum

Prostate Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The prostate gland is located at the base of the bladder and it is about the size of a walnut. It secretes a milky fluid that is a component of semen. Since the gland is located directly in front of the rectum, it can be felt by performing a rectal exam. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer other than skin cancer in men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 230,090 new cases will be diagnosed in 2005. Prostate cancer will cause about 30,350 deaths in 2005 in the United States. Since people are living longer, the incidence of prostate cancer will increase proportionately. Prostate cancer is now being diagnosed more frequently partly secondary to the widespread utilization of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.

RISK FACTORS

Having a family history of prostate cancer is the most significant risk factor. The incidence of prostate cancer is also increased in African-Americans. Environmental factors may contribute to the development of prostate cancer. There is an increased incidence in persons migrating to the United States from areas with a low incidence of prostate cancer. Certain industries are associated with an excess of prostate cancer. These include workers that are exposed to cadmium, workers in tire and rubber manufacturing, farmers, mechanics, and sheet metal workers.

PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS

Most patients don't have any symptoms when they are first diagnosed. Early symptoms are urinary hesitancy or urgency, urinary frequency or having to get up frequently at night to urinate. These same symptoms are more likely to be caused by benign enlargement of the prostate than by prostate cancer. Palpable nodules of the prostate gland are occasionally how prostate cancer is first diagnosed. Prostate cancer is more frequently diagnosed by an elevated PSA blood test. If the cancer has spread, patients may present with bladder outlet obstruction or bone pain from spread of the cancer to the bones. Patients also may present with renal failure from obstruction of the urethra. Prostate biopsy is the gold standard for detection of prostate cancer. Transrectal ultrasonography is used for the evaluation of a prostate nodule. It is also used to better define what area to biopsy. This procedure involves inserting a probe into the rectum and obtaining an ultrasound of the prostate gland. The biopsy can then be directed at any abnormalities on the resulting picture. Even if the ultrasound doesn't show an abnormality, multiple blind biopsies may show cancer.

SCREENING FOR PROSTATE CANCER

The American Cancer Society recommends a yearly digital rectal exam starting at age 50. They also recommend a yearly prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test beginning at age 50. The PSA test measures a protein in the blood that increases with the development of prostate cancer. Unfortunately this test is far from perfect. There are many false positive as well as false negative results. There is quite a bit of disagreement on this recommendation. We do not know whether early detection will reduce mortality. At least 30% of men over 50 years of age have definite evidence of prostate cancer, yet only a small fraction of these cancers will progress to cause death. There is presently no perfect way to predict which cancers will progress and spread. An article in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that watchful waiting is a reasonable option for men with localized early prostate cancer, especially if their life expectancy is less than 10 years. Men that are in their fifties or sixties, are likely to improve their life expectancy with treatment. Microscopic evaluation of the biopsy specimens can be helpful in classifying the cancer as to its potential for spread. If the PSA is over 4 ng/ml or if the rectal exam is abnormal, a biopsy is usually preformed using transrectal ultrasonography. This test can show abnormal areas in the prostate that are most likely to have cancer. If the yearly PSA tests increase by more than 0.75 ng/ml, a biopsy should also be performed. It is a good idea to repeat any elevated PSA since there is a daily variation is the values.

TREATMENT

There are presently several different options for treatment. Radical prostatectomy involves removal to the entire prostate gland. Younger patients are more likely to undergo a prostatectomy. The overall 15-year survival rate is between 80% and 85% when the initial cancer is confined to the prostate gland. A prostatectomy leaves at least 30% of patients impotent and 1%-2 % incontinent. Radiation involves external beam radiation to the prostate gland or brachytherapy where radium implants are inserted into the prostate gland. Radiation therapy has an impotence rate of about 25% and an incontinence rate of almost zero. Unfortunately, some cancer is left behind about 10% of the time in both methods. Hormonal therapy is usually reserved for patients who have advanced prostate cancer.

REFERENCES

1. Thompson, IM, Pauler, DK, Goodman, Pj, et al. Prevalence of prostate cancer among men with a prostate-specific antigen level <4.0 ng/mL. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:2239.

2. Miller, DC, Hafez, KS, Stewart, A, et al. Prostate carcinoma presentation, diagnosis, and staging: an update form the National Cancer Data Base. Cancer 2003; 98:1169.

3. Vicini, FA, Martinez, A, Hanks, G, et al. An interinstitutional and interspecialty comparison of treatment outcome data for patients with prostate carcinoma based on predefined prognostic categories and minimum follow-up. Cancer 2002; 95:2126.

4. Holmberg, L, Bill-Axelson, A, Helgesen, F, et al. A randomized trial comparing radical prostatectomy with watchful waiting in early prostate cancer. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:781.

5. Cooperberg, MR, Lubeck, DP, Meng, MV, et al. The changing face of low-risk prostate cancer: trends in clinical presentation and primary management. J Clin Oncol 2004; 22:2141.

6. Jemal, A, et al. Cancer statistics, 2005. CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55:10-30.

7. Chodak G, et al. Results of Conservative Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med 1994 330: 242- 248.

8. Holleb A, et al. Cancer of the Prostate. Clinical Oncology(ACS) 1991 pp 280-283.

9. Littrup P, et al. The Benefit and Cost of Prostate Cancer Early Detection. CA, May / June 1993 pp 135-149.
10. Mettlin C, et al. Trends in Prostate Cancer Care In The United States,1974-1990: Observations From The Patient Care Evaluation Studies Of The American College Of Surgeons Commission On Cancer. CA, March / April 1993 pp 83-93.
11. Carey B. The Prostate Predicament. Health May / June 1984 pp 101-104.

The information provided above is offered as a community service about health-care issues and is not a substitute for individual consultation. Advice on individual problems should be obtained from your personal physician. This information is based on research by the author and represents his interpretation of the literature.

* * *

Readers may send questions to our email address. This column is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice.

* * *

This web page is best viewed in 1024 x 768 resolution. Last updated April 2009. Over 1,194,000 page views.
This web site is maintained by Washington Publishers, Tallahassee Florida, USA, and uses Sun Domains and Software.
To have objectionable or potentially copyrighted material evaluated for removal on this site, click here.
Copyright © 2000 - 2009 All Rights Reserved Washington Publishers
Washington Publishers is not an affiliate of Inside Washington Publishers.
Learn more about our current privacy and information practices.