Prostate cancer is caused in the small walnut-shaped gland in a man’s pelvis. This gland is responsible for producing seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. The prostate gland is located next to the bladder and can be examined through a rectal exam. When it comes to prostate cancer, tumor growth can be either benign or malignant. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men.

Benign growths and malignant growths
Occasionally, growth in the prostate is usually benign. This means that the growth is not cancerous, and this condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A benign prostate growth:

• Is not life-threatening
• Does not invade surrounding tissues and organs or spread to other parts of the body
• Can be removed surgically; it may grow back but that will happen slowly and in most cases, it does not develop again

Prostate cancer is said to be malignant when it grows and spreads rapidly. A cancerous prostate growth:

• May be life-threatening
• Can spread to nearby tissues and organs and other parts of the body
• Can be removed but it may grow back

A prostate growth becomes cancerous when its cells break away from the prostate tumor and travel to other parts of the body through blood vessels and lymph nodes. In the new body parts, the cells may attach to other tissues to form new tumors and cause severe damage, becoming life-threatening.

Prostate cancer cells retain their original form even in the new place. For example, when prostate cancer cells spread to the bones, they may form new tumors but the cells in these tumors are the original prostate cancer cells. This disease is known as metastatic prostate cancer and is treated as prostate cancer in bone.

What causes prostate cancer?
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown but doctors believe that it begins when some cells in the prostate gland grow abnormally. These cells experience mutations in the DNA, which results in their rapid growth and division. The abnormal cells continue growing in number and result in a tumor that may stay in the prostate gland or spread to nearby tissues and organs.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer may grow slowly in the initial stages and may show no symptoms at times. However, once the disease reaches advanced stages, it may show the following symptoms:

• Trouble urinating: One of the first signs of prostate cancer is pain while urinating and frequent urination. A person may experience either of them or both the symptoms together.
• Decreased urine pressure: Prostate cancer may decrease the force in the urinal stream.
• Blood in semen/urine: Patients may see blood in semen or urine.
• Painful ejaculation: Sexually active men may experience pain during ejaculation.
• Erectile dysfunction: Some people may experience sudden erectile dysfunction.
• Pain in lower back/upper thighs/hips: There may be persistent pain in the lower back, upper thighs, and hips.
• Loss of appetite and weight: Prostate cancer can lead to an acute loss of appetite, which may result in weight loss.
• Discomfort in the pelvic area: There may be discomfort or dull pain in the pelvic area, particularly the lower region.
• Bone pain : Pain in the bones can be another prominent indication of prostate cancer.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
Prostate cancer screening is the first step in the diagnosis of this medical condition. Whether to test healthy men that do not experience any signs of prostate cancer or to not examine them is debatable. Some segments of healthcare experts believe that screening healthy men for prostate cancer delivers no benefits. While another group of experts believes that men who have a family history or who are at risk because of other reasons should be screened after the age of 50 or earlier. The screening process includes:

• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
  During DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to examine the prostate. If the doctor detects any abnormalities in texture, size, or shape, the patient may be sent for further tests.
• Prostate-Specific Antigen Test (PSA)
  In this test, blood is drawn from a vein in the arm and analyzed for PSA, which is a natural substance produced by the prostate gland. It is normal for a small amount of PSA to be present in the blood but a higher level may indicate an infection, enlargement, inflammation in the prostate gland, or cancer. Both these screening methods help in detecting prostate cancer in early stages. In addition to these tests, the following tests are conducted to diagnose the problem with the prostate gland.
• Ultrasound
  If the screening procedures raise concerns, the next step is to conduct a transrectal ultrasound. A small probe is inserted in the rectum to take a picture of the prostate gland using sound waves. This probe is small in size and shaped like a cigar.
• Sample collection
  If all the initial tests point towards prostate cancer, the doctor may then collect a sample of cells from the prostate gland. This process is known as a prostate biopsy and is done using a thin needle that is inserted in the prostate gland to collect the tissue. This sample is then analyzed in the lab to determine whether the presence of cancer cells.
• MRI fusion
  MRI fusion is a new biopsy method that is being used across the globe in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

How to find out the severity of cancer?
Once a biopsy confirms cancer, the next step is to determine the aggressiveness of the condition. This is when the cancer is graded according to how much the cancer cells differ from the healthy cells. Higher the grade of cancer, the more aggressive it is, making it more likely to spread rapidly.

The most common grading system used to grade prostate cancer is the Gleason Score. In this method, the cancer is scored between 2-10, wherein 2 indicates non-aggressive cancer and 10 indicates aggressive cancer.

Detecting the spread of prostate cancer
The last step in prostate cancer diagnosis is to determine how far it has spread. Various scans are conducted at this stage to identify cancer in the bones and other parts. The tests conducted at this stage include:

• Bone Scan
• Ultrasound
• Computerized Tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan

What are the risk factors of prostate cancer?
The following factors increase the risk of prostate cancer in men:

• Age
  Older men are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men below 40 years of age. Men above the age of 55 are at the highest risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Ethnicity
  The ethnicity of men increases and decreases their risk of prostate cancer. It has been discovered that African-American are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities.
• Family history
  Men who have a history of prostate cancer in their family are at higher risk of developing it. These men are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop prostate cancer.
• Obesity
  Obesity is linked to the severity of prostate cancer. This means overweight men are more likely to experience advanced stages of prostate cancer, which are quite difficult to treat. According to doctors, a diet consisting of refined sugar, calories, and animal fats and lacking in fruits and vegetables increases the probability of prostate cancer. Moreover, a lack of exercise may result in poor health as well.
• Smoking
  Studies have shown that the risk of prostate cancer is double in heavy smokers. Smoking is also linked to a higher risk of death because of prostate cancer. It has also been found that when a person quits smoking, his risk for prostate cancer goes down to that of a non-smoker within ten years of stopping the habit.
• Geography
  The cases and deaths caused by this disease are highest in North America and Northern Europe. These numbers may be because of poor diets, hereditary reasons, lack of exercise, environmental exposures, and more screening procedures.

What are the complications caused by prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer causes various complications that are subjectively treated to bring some relief to the patient. Some of these are explained below:

• Metastasis cancer
  Prostate cancer can spread to nearby tissues and organs such as the bladder. It may also circulate through the lymphatic system or bloodstream to other organs and bones. Prostate cancer in bones can lead to broken bones and excessive pain. At this stage, prostate cancer is likely to respond to treatment; however, it will be quite difficult to cure the disease.
• Incontinence
  Incontinence is a common symptom of prostate cancer and may also be caused by its treatment. The treatment for incontinence depends on its severity and the type. The treatment options include catheters, surgery, and medication in mild cases.
• Erectile dysfunction
  Erectile dysfunction may be caused due to prostate cancer as well as its treatment methods, which include radiation, surgery, and hormone treatments. This complication is generally treated with the help of medications and vacuum devices.

How to treat prostate cancer?
Some prostate cancers grow quite gradually; these may not require any treatment or may get better with minimal treatment. Others may grow and spread quickly and become life-threatening. Such cancers need treatment, which is often quite a complex procedure. Treatment of prostate cancer depends on:

• Stage of the cancer
• Risk category
• Age and health condition
• Preferences concerning side-effects and long-term effects of treatment

The main treatment options for prostate cancer include:

• Surveillance
  This is the stage where the doctors keep an eye on the progress of cancer. A treatment plan is created only when the tumors are growing at a rapid pace. Depending on the grade of cancer, surveillance can be active surveillance or watchful waiting.
• Localized therapy
  Localized therapy is the treatment plan that is executed only on the prostate gland. This includes surgery to remove tumors, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, and focal therapy.
• Systemic therapy
  Systemic therapy is conducted when the cancer is identified to be aggressive and has spread outside of the prostate gland. This step involves hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Ways to prevent prostate cancer
Several factors increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. Working on all those factors can help prevent this cancer. However, certain aspects, such as family history and ethnicity cannot be changed. Hence, there are only a few things that can be done to prevent prostate cancer.

• Follow a nutritious diet
  A healthy diet is a great first step towards the prevention of prostate cancer. Men should reduce the consumption of high-fat foods and refined sugar. Instead, they should consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. All these items can improve overall health, which in turn, will reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other serious diseases. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, most people turn to health supplements. According to doctors, healthy foods are a better option to get your daily dose of these nutrients.
• Exercise regularly
  Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and improves the mood as well. Studies have proved that men who exercise have a lower risk of prostate cancer. Obesity is one of the most common risk factors of prostate cancer. A healthy diet and bodyweight weight keep the disease in check. Men who are overweight, should create a diet and exercise plan and attain a healthy weight.
• Take medications if you are at high risk
  Some studies have found that taking certain prescription treatments can reduce the overall risk of developing prostate cancer. They are commonly used to reduce hair loss in men and control prostate gland enlargement. Men who are at risk can talk to their doctor about the use of specific prescriptions.