Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed tumour in adult men in developed countries where there is a long life expectancy. It is an atypical and uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up the prostate gland.
If left untreated, the cancerous prostate cells can end up spreading to and invading distant parts of the body - especially lymph nodes and bones - and cause secondary tumours through a process known as metastasis.
Due to widespread knowledge of this tumour in the general population and the ease with which suspicion is established, 90% of cases in Spain are diagnosed when the cancer is still at a localised stage. This diagnosis is established by means of a blood analysis and rectal examination.
What is the cause?
Some of the risk factors for this disease include:
- Age. The older a man is, the more likely he is to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose father or brother has had prostate cancer, primarily at younger ages, are more likely to suffer from the disease. This is particularly true if they were diagnosed with prostate cancer before turning 55.
- Ethnic group. Prostate cancer is most commonly found in members of the African diaspora.
- Genetic factors, such as BRCA mutations (also associated with breast and ovarian cancer), are associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer.
Signs and symptoms
Many men with prostate cancer are asymptomatic.
Often, the first sign of the disease is a chance finding of elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a routine blood test. The disease may occasionally produce local symptoms related to prostate gland growth that may mimic those caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In these patients, bone pain is often related to more advanced stages of pancreatic cancer.
Experiencing urinary discomfort does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms to make sure that you receive a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.
Possible problems and/or complications
Prostate biopsies can cause some complications, but most of the time there are no sequelae. The most frequent ones are:
- Blood, which may be found in semen, urine or faeces.
- Urinary or prostate infection.
- Urinary retention.
Important / you should think about
Depending on the aggressiveness of the tumour, the urologist will order the necessary complementary imaging tests to ascertain the clinical stage of the cancer. These tests may be: a computed axial tomography (CT) scan, a bone scan, a multiparametric MRI scan of the prostate or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
