Men’s health PROSTATE CANCER
BY AN I SHA RAO
treatment. While the idea of finding any and all cancers early to ensure successful treatment sounds logical, some prostate cancers grow so slowly that they would never result in medical problems during the lifetime of the patient. Because of early test- ing and screening, some men who never would have known or been impacted by prostate cancer may undergo invasive and harmful procedures that are unnecessary based on their unique situation. Treatment and Prognosis Depending on the specific circumstances of each case, treatment for prostate cancer can range from observation to targeted therapies such as chemo- therapy and immunotherapy. Again, the type and intensity of the specific treatment depend on the patient. For most men, treatment (if necessary) can remove or destroy the cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men, second to skin cancer. Most of the cases (approximately 60%) are in men over the age of 65, and most cases are found when before the cancer has spread outside of the prostate (regional stage). The five-year survival rate is nearly 100% for regional stage prostate cancer, but once the cancer spreads, the five-year survival rate declines drastically. Although prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of death in men in the United States, the death rate has declined by more than 50% in the last decade due to advance- ments in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Sources: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/statistics https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.html
Pre-Cancerous Prostate Concerns According to data from the American Cancer Society, some prostate cancer may start as one of a few pre-cancerous conditions, although research is still required to confirm if there is a possible connection. In some cases, these conditions are found during a prostate biopsy to look for or defin- itively diagnose prostate cancer. Some conditions that are believed to be possible pre-cancerous conditions include prostatic intraepithelial neo- plasia and proliferative inflammatory atrophy. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) When a man has a PIN, there are changes to how the cells of the prostate gland look when they are examined under a microscope. However, unlike cancer cells, these cells do not appear to spread to other parts of the prostate. PIN is classified as either low-grade or high grade, depending on the level of abnormality observed in the cell structure. Low-grade PIN is not thought to be connected to an elevated risk of prostate cancer, but high-grade PIN is believed to be a precursor of prostate cancer. PIN can develop in the prostates of men as early as their 20’s, but it is important to note that many men with PIN will never develop prostate cancer. Proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) In men with PIA, the prostate appears smaller than normal, and there are indicators of inflam- mation in the surrounding area. PIA is not a form of cancer, although a certain amount of research indicates that PIA may lead to high-grade PIN or perhaps to prostate cancer. Screening for and Diagnosing Prostate Cancer As with many forms of cancer, early detection is vital for successful treatment and positive prog- nosis outcomes. However, early detection is not always easy. Fortunately, there are early detec- tion tests for prostate cancer that, when utilized properly, can lead to early detection. Prostate cancer can often be detected in the early stages through PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing. A PSA test looks for levels of prostate-specific antigens in the blood. Another way to detect early changes and potential cancers in the pros- tate is through a DRE or digital rectal exam. Although early screening would seem like an essential process for most men, there are concerns regarding early detection screening procedures. However, it is crucial to note that in many cases, the benefits of early detection far outweigh the risks. One concern is the possibility of inaccurate or unclear test results. Neither PSA nor DRE tests are 100% accurate. These tests can sometimes produce false-positive or false-negative results. Unclear or inaccurate test results can indeed lead to a host of problems for the patient. Another concern is overdi- agnosis and overtreatment. Even if cancer is found through one of the above testing models, it can be difficult to tell if the cancer is dangerous and needs
Despite a reduction in mortality rates for most can- cers, prostate cancer saw some of the highest fatality numbers in two decades as 2020 came to a close. Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the number of people who will be newly diagnosed with cancer or lose their battle with cancer in a calendar year. In January of 2020, the American Cancer Society estimated that 191,930 men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although con- firmed statistics are not available yet, this would signify a five percent increase over 2019 data.
What is Prostate Cancer? All forms of cancer begin when cells in the body start to grow in abnormal ways. Often, they grow too quickly and begin to accumu- late in specific organs or tissues, forming a mass. Cells in almost any part of the body can become cancer cells and can spread to other areas of the body if left untreated or undiagnosed. Prostate cancer begins when cells within the pros- tate begin to grow uncontrollably. The prostate is an organ found only in males. Located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, it is respon- sible for producing some of the fluid that forms semen. The urethra travels through the center of the prostate. As a man ages, the size of the prostate can change. In younger men, a healthy prostate is typically no larger than a walnut; how- ever, as males age, the prostate can swell, resulting in difficulties with urination and sexual dysfunction. Types of Prostate Cancer Like other types of cancer, there is more than one type of prostate cancer. Some types grow and spread quickly, but most grow slowly. In many cases, men will not realize they have prostate cancer until they have had it for many years. According to stud- ies by the American Cancer Society, some autopsy results performed on individuals who passed from causes unattributed to cancer also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives. Most prostate cancers are adenocarcino- mas. These cancers develop from the gland cells within the prostate that are responsible for making prostate fluid. The prostate fluid is one of the fluids added to semen. Other types of prostate cancer are very rare and include: • Sarcomas • Transitional cell carcinomas • Small cell carcinomas • Neuroendocrine tumors other than small cell carcinomas
CPhT CONNECT www.pharmacy technician.org
13
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker