Clinical Analysis of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed male cancer and the fifth leading cancer-related mortality rate in men around the world. In 2020, there were 1,414,249 newly diagnosed cases and 375,000 fatalities worldwide due to this illness. The majority of prostate tumors grow slowly, are low-grade, have a modest risk, and are not particularly aggressive. 

CAUSES

• The underlying cause of prostate cancer is unclear
• According to medical professionals, prostate cells change their DNA, which is how prostate cancer develops
• The instructions for a cell's functioning are encoded in its DNA
• The alterations instruct the cells to multiply and divide more frequently than normal cells
• The cancerous cells build up to create a tumor, which can spread to infect nearby tissue
• Over time, certain cancerous cells may split and metastasize

RISK FACTORS

• Age - Men under the age of 40 are less likely to develop prostate cancer than older men, although the risk increases significantly after age 50. Men older than 65 are infected by prostate cancer in about 6 out of 10 cases

• Race/ethnicity - A man's risk of having prostate cancer is more than doubled if his father or sibling has the condition

• Gene changes - Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes linked to an elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancer can also raise the risk of prostate cancer in men (especially mutations in BRCA2)

• Prostate cancer risk is higher in men who have Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), a disorder caused by inherited gene alterations

SYMPTOMS

• Weak or irregular urine flow
• Frequent urination
• Inability to properly empty the bladder
• Having a stinging or burning urination
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Persistent pain in the pelvis, hips, or back
• Painful ejaculation
• Erectile dysfunction

DIAGNOSIS 

Screening for prostate cancer - Prostate screening tests include:

• Digital rectal exam (DRE) – It is done by inserting a finger into the rectum while wearing gloves and lubricant to examine the prostate
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test –. An unusually high level of PSA in the blood could point to malignancy, inflammation, enlargement, or prostate infection
• If a prostate cancer screening indicates an abnormality doctor might suggest additional tests to find out if you have prostate cancer, such as:
• Ultrasound test
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Collecting a sample of prostate tissue
• Gleason score
• Genomic testing
• Bone scan
• CT scan
• PET scan 

TREATMENT 

1. Prostatectomy – includes the removal of affected tissues and lymph nodes of the prostate gland. This can be done by 2 techniques: 

• Making several small incisions in your abdomen
• Making one long incision in your abdomen

2. Radiation therapy includes -

• Radiation that comes from outside of your body (external beam radiation)
• Radiation placed inside your body (brachytherapy)

3. Freezing or heating prostate tissue -

• Freezing prostate tissue - Cryoablation or cryotherapy technique is used 
• Heating prostate tissue - High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technique is used 

4. Chemotherapy 
5. Immunotherapy
6. Targeted drug therapy 

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