Prostate cancer is a very common problem in men aged around 80. In the 50-80 age range, almost half of men suffer from more or less advanced forms of prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer is very rarely the cause of death. Although it is such a common disease, doctors are still not sure about the exact causes of prostate cancer. The ethnic risk is considered to be the basic risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Men of African origin are the most vulnerable, and the Asians are the safest.
It is possible to cure prostate cancer on the condition of early detection of the disease. Symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy are very easy to see. Most men experience difficulty urinating, noticing a weak or intermittent flow of urine. Other symptoms include the urgency of urinating or the need to wake up several times a night to do so.
There is no universal treatment to cure prostate cancer.
The basic factors determining the treatment method are: general health, age, location of the tumor in the prostate gland, size of the tumor. The most radical way is a surgical operation called prostatectomy. This is a complicated surgical procedure, so the patient must be in good general health. After the surgical operation, side effects may occur, mainly related to erectile dysfunctions and problems with passing urine. However, modern techniques significantly reduce the risk of postoperative complications. The percentage of successful prostate cancer surgery is very high.
Hormone therapy is another option. Hormone therapy does not eliminate cancer cells, but significantly reduces the size of the prostate tumor. Most doctors recommend such treatment in conjunction with surgery, which guarantees better results. The growth of prostate cancer is stimulated by testosterone, the male sex hormone. Hormone therapies work by lowering testosterone levels. By regulating the level of the male sex hormone, the prostate becomes less susceptible to the growth of cancer cells.
There is another method of treatment for prostate cancer, namely radiotherapy. Radiotherapy destroys cancer cells by radiation. The method is painless, but it can cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhea and impotence. Brachytherapy is a special type of radiotherapy. It involves implanting radioactive elements directly in the tumor or in its vicinity. Radioactive elements help reduce the growth of cancer cells.
