The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and is only found in men. The prostate includes the urethra which allows the flow of urine from the bladder to the penis. The cells that make up the prostate can become cancerous and cause prostate cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in men in Singapore. This cancer usually occurs after the age of 50 years and mostly occurs in those aged over 70 years.
Risks and Causes
There is no single cause of prostate cancer. It is estimated that smoking and family history are one of the contributing factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms and Signs of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally during routine rectal examinations. With advanced disease there may be difficulty urinating. Cancer can spread to other organs or tissues with the most common spread to the bones. Where common symptoms are bone pain.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic test
The prostate is located in front of the rectum. Therefore, the rectum can be examined with a gloved finger by a doctor. In addition to physical examination, blood tests (prostate-specific antigen or PSA) help to diagnose prostate cancer. To confirm prostate cancer, a small portion of the tissue from the prostate gland is taken, and examined under a microscope. In order to find out the extent of the development of prostate cancer, CT or MRI scans are performed. Bone scans are also done to see if the bone has been affected because this is the most common place of spread.
Treatment options
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Some localized prostate cases can be managed with active supervision1. Surgery for prostate cancer includes removal of the entire prostate gland and nearby tissue. There may be complications after surgery such as impotence and difficulty controlling urine because the fine nerves are damaged during the procedure.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays aimed at cancer. This has an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Radiotherapy is done in addition to surgery for early prostate cancer2. This can also be given to patients with advanced cancer that has spread to the bone, to reduce pain.
Prostate cancer depends on male sex hormones to grow, therefore inhibiting the production of male sex hormones is one strategy to control the growth of prostate cancer. This can be achieved through medications (hormone therapy) or removal of both testicles (bilateral orchidectomy). Some male hormones come from the adrenal glands, small glands are above the kidneys. There are agents that can stop the production of these hormones from the adrenal glands. When hormone therapy no longer works in patients with advanced prostate cancer, chemotherapy is used3.
Prognosis of Prostate Cancer
Clinical examinations of scans and pathology reports all help the medical team to determine the extent of the development of prostate cancer. The appropriate type of treatment is then recommended. Treatment strategies vary from person to person. Prognosis of prostate cancer depends on the extent of the disease, individual health conditions and response to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my 85-year-old father / uncle not treated with prostate cancer?
Treatment is sometimes not given to elderly patients with slow-growing prostate cancer. Patients may have other diseases that are potentially life-threatening, such as heart or lung disease. The cancer, if left unchecked, may not cause problems in the years to come1.
What tests should be done to detect prostate cancer?
Blood can be sent to prostate-specific antigen or PSA. This marker may increase in people who have benign enlargement of the prostate gland, prostate gland infection or prostate cancer.
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and is only found in men. The prostate includes the urethra which allows the flow of urine from the bladder to the penis. The cells that make up the prostate can become cancerous and cause prostate cancer.
How common is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in men in Singapore. This cancer usually occurs after the age of 50 years and mostly occurs in those aged over 70 years.
Risks and Causes
There is no single cause of prostate cancer. It is estimated that smoking and family history are one of the contributing factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms and Signs of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer is usually asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally during routine rectal examinations. With advanced disease there may be difficulty urinating. Cancer can spread to other organs or tissues with the most common spread to the bones. Where common symptoms are bone pain.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic test
The prostate is located in front of the rectum. Therefore, the rectum can be examined with a gloved finger by a doctor. In addition to physical examination, blood tests (prostate-specific antigen or PSA) help to diagnose prostate cancer. To confirm prostate cancer, a small portion of the tissue from the prostate gland is taken, and examined under a microscope. In order to find out the extent of the development of prostate cancer, CT or MRI scans are performed. Bone scans are also done to see if the bone has been affected because this is the most common place of spread.
Treatment options
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Some localized prostate cases can be managed with active supervision1. Surgery for prostate cancer includes removal of the entire prostate gland and nearby tissue. There may be complications after surgery such as impotence and difficulty controlling urine because the fine nerves are damaged during the procedure.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays aimed at cancer. This has an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Radiotherapy is done in addition to surgery for early prostate cancer2. This can also be given to patients with advanced cancer that has spread to the bone, to reduce pain.
Prostate cancer depends on male sex hormones to grow, therefore inhibiting the production of male sex hormones is one strategy to control the growth of prostate cancer. This can be achieved through medications (hormone therapy) or removal of both testicles (bilateral orchidectomy). Some male hormones come from the adrenal glands, small glands are above the kidneys. There are agents that can stop the production of these hormones from the adrenal glands. When hormone therapy no longer works in patients with advanced prostate cancer, chemotherapy is used3.
Prognosis of Prostate Cancer
Clinical examinations of scans and pathology reports all help the medical team to determine the extent of the development of prostate cancer. The appropriate type of treatment is then recommended. Treatment strategies vary from person to person. Prognosis of prostate cancer depends on the extent of the disease, individual health conditions and response to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my 85-year-old father / uncle not treated with prostate cancer?
Treatment is sometimes not given to elderly patients with slow-growing prostate cancer. Patients may have other diseases that are potentially life-threatening, such as heart or lung disease. The cancer, if left unchecked, may not cause problems in the years to come1.
What tests should be done to detect prostate cancer?
Blood can be sent to prostate-specific antigen or PSA. This marker may increase in people who have benign enlargement of the prostate gland, prostate gland infection or prostate cancer.
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