Prostate Cancer
About one half of men over seventy have prostate cancer and practically all men over 90 have prostate cancer. Most men will not be aware of it because prostate cancer in the majority of cases is extremely slow in developing and a large number of men die before having indications of the condition. Although there are many cases of prostate cancer that never have any symptoms, there are a few cases that develop and spread rapidly throughout the body. Because the cancer is slow to develop and have symptoms, many cases are in an advanced stage by the time of discovery.
Symptoms are difficulty in urinating and increasing frequency to urinate, particularly at night. This same symptom occurs in a condition of en enlarged benign prostate. When the urine becomes bloody or if a severe problem of urine retention develops it may indicate cancer. However, only a biopsy will reveal a positive identification of the cancer. Because of the danger of a late identification, the doctor should always screen for prostate cancer in an annual physical examination. Two tests are given. The first one is when the doctor examines the prostate and squeezes it to feel for lumps or nodules of cancer, and the other test is a PSA. blood test. The PSA checks a substance of the blood that elevates from prostate cancer. Neither test is conclusive. If the physical examination reveals a bump, the doctor can test with an ultrasound scan and if it shows a nodule then a biopsy should be made. The PSA test misses about half of the time and doesn't seem to have much benefit.
Treatment depends on whether or not the cancer has spread and how malignant it is. If it is confined to a small area of the prostate it will be many years before it will spread into a dangerous condition. After the doctor has made his diagnosis and knows all the pertinent information of the cancer, he can discuss all options such as surgery, radiation, and many other treatments. One option is to do nothing, which many men of advanced age will decide is the best decision. Because of the slow progression of the disease, watchful waiting with natural treatments of building a strong immune system may be the best.
