Source: Health Promotion Board, Singapore
Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among Singaporean men.
Prostate specific tumor antigen (PSA) blood testing can be done in men with symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer or in men at high risk of developing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces seminal fluid, the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among men in Singapore.
Causes
The cause prostate cancer is not clear.
A combination of factors may play a role in prostate cancer such as family history, ethnicity, hormones, diet and the environment.
Risk factors
The main risk factors include:
- Age. The risk of prostate cancer increases after the age of 50 years.
- Race or ethnicity. Dark skinned men have a higher risk of developing and dying of prostate cancer.
- Family history of prostate cancer increases the risk of prostate cancer.
- Diet. A high-fat diet and obesity may increase your risk of prostate cancer.
- High testosterone levels in men who use testosterone therapy.
Symptoms
In the early stages of prostate cancer, there may be no symptoms.
In the later stages, symptoms of prostate cancer may include urinary symptoms such as:
- Difficulty passing urine or slowing of the flow of urine to a trickle
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Blood in your urine or semen
Advanced prostate cancer which has spread to:
- Bones may cause bone pain, fractures and compression of the spine.
- Lymph nodes may cause swelling of the leg or discomfort.
Diagnosis
These include:
- Digital rectal examination (DRE) to detect any abnormalities in the texture, shape or size of the prostate gland.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test involves taking a blood sample from a vein and testing for PSA, a substance that is naturally produced by the prostate gland to help liquefy semen. High levels will warrant further investigation.
- Tran rectal ultrasound to detect any abnormalities in the prostate gland.
- Prostate biopsy involves taking thin sections of tissue from the prostate gland.
Additional tests include:
- Bone scan
- Ultrasound
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Lymph node biopsy
Complications
The typical complications of prostate cancer and its treatments include:
- Spread of cancer to nearby organs or travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system affecting the bones or other organs.
- Pain when the cancer spreads to bones it can cause excruciating pain.
- Difficulty urinating (urinary incontinence).
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence.
- Depression after a diagnosis of prostate cancer or after trying to cope with the side effects of treatment.
Treatment
The most common treatments for prostate cancer include the following:
External beam radiation therapy
External beam radiation treatment uses high-powered X-rays to kill cancer cells.
Radioactive seed implants
Radioactive implants, also known as brachytherapy, deliver a higher dose of radiation than do external beams.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy involves using drugs to stop the body from producing the male sex hormones testosterone, which can stimulate the growth of cancer cells.
Radical prostatectomy
Surgical removal of prostate gland is used to treat cancer that is confined to the prostate gland.
Chemotherapy
This type of treatment uses drugs to destroy rapidly growing cancer cells.
Prevention
Prostate cancer cannot be prevented.
However certain measures are known to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Eating fruit and vegetables and avoiding high fat diet. High-fat diets have been linked to prostate cancer.
- Foods rich in antioxidants such as lycopene include raw or cooked tomatoes, tomato products, grapefruit and watermelon help to fight cancer. Garlic and other vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower also help fight cancer.
- Get regular exercise. Men who are physically active usually have less-severe symptoms than do men who get little exercise.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might prevent prostate cancer. These drugs include ibuprofen and naproxen.
Source: Health Promotion Board, Singapore
www.hpb.gov.sg
