Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. Prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure and is part of a man's reproductive system. As per GLOBOCAN, 2008, prostate cancer was the second most frequently diagnosed cancer of men worldwide (8, 99, 000 new cases, 13.6% of the total) and the fifth most common cancer overall.
Causes and risk factors of prostate cancer
• Age: The risk of developing the disease increases with age. More than 70% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65.
• Family history is another indicator. If your father or brother had the disease, one is up to 11 times more likely to develop it.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
• Weak, decreased or interrupted urine stream
• Difficulty in starting or stopping the urine flow
• A sense of incompletely emptying the bladder
• Need to urinate often, especially at night
• Intense need to urinate (urgency)
• Inability to urinate
• Burning or pain during urination
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Painful ejaculation
Diagnostic tests for prostate cancer
Two standard screening tests are used for early detection of prostate cancer are
• PSA Test is a blood test that measures the level of a protein called prostate-specific antigen.
• Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) is a physical examination conducted urologists to examine the prostate gland.
If an abnormality is detected on a DRE or PSA test, the doctor may recommend following tests to determine whether one has prostate cancer
• MRI of Prostate: It is a highly specialised imaging of the prostate gland. Medanta is among few top hospitals in the Delhi/NCR who have the latest technology in MRI called 3 TESLA MRI machine. It is the most powerful scanner available today.
• TRUS (Transrectal Ultrasound Guided Prostate) Biopsy: If initial test results suggest prostate cancer, patient may be recommended a procedure to collect a sample of suspicious cells from prostate (prostate biopsy). At Medanta, this is done by a specialized team of urologists using ultrasound guidance.
Treatments available for prostate cancer at Medanta
Prostate cancer patients, who have localized disease (cancer still limited to prostate) and enjoy good health and expected lifespan, can be cured with the following treatment options:
Robotic Surgery: Medanta offers the most advanced form of minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer using da Vinci surgical system to perform robotic prostate surgery.
Cyberknife: At Medanta, we use Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System to treat cancer. It is world's first system, designed to treat tumors of all kinds anywhere in the body. With its unique precision and accuracy, it treats both static and moving lesions and tumors, giving surgeons the power to treat patients non-invasively, with successful outcomes. The urology team at Medanta has performed many successful surgeries using Cyberknife.
Metastatic cancer (cancer which has spread to other parts of the body) can be controlled for a long period of time and quality of life can be maintained using the following treatment options:
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. In prostate cancer, male sex hormones can cause prostate cancer to grow. Drugs, surgery, or other hormones are used to reduce the amount of male hormones or block them from working.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from growing. The way chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Biologic therapy
Biologic therapy uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct or restore the body’s natural defences against cancer.
FAQS
Am I a candidate for prostate cancer screening?
All healthy men above the age of 50 and men experiencing urinary problems/symptoms listed above should get the screening done.
How frequently should I get the screening done?
Once a year
How is robotic prostate surgery different from conventional surgery?
Firstly, robotic surgery is a minimally-invasive approach, thus, patients have less abdominal trauma due to smaller incisions and most will have less pain when compared to open surgery. The second main benefit of is that the blood loss during robotic surgery is far less than during open surgery. Thirdly, in case of robotic surgery, the patient is discharged in 2-5 days and back to normal life in 2 weeks unlike conventional surgery.
