Prostate cancer Flashcards
Define prostate cancer
A malignant tumour of glandular origin, situated in the prostate
Which area of the prostate is the most likely site of prostate cancers?
Posterior Peripheral zone
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
- Age 50+
- Fhx of prostate cancer
- High fat low fibre diet
Which cells produce PSA and what is its purpose?
Prostate specific antigen is produced in the luminal cells in the prostate and it is used to liquefy semen after ejaculation
What do basal and luminal cells need to survive?
Androgens
Mutations in which genes are associated with prostate cancer? and which other type of cancer are also linked to mutations in these genes?
BRCA1 and BRCA2
They are also associated with breast cancer
what do mutated cells initially rely on?
Androgens, but they eventually become autonomous
Compared to other cancers, does prostate cancer have a fast or slow rate of growth?
Has a slow rate of growth
What is the epidemiology of prostate cancer?
- 2nd most common cause of cancer mortality in men
- More common in black men
- Median age of diagnosis is 66 yrs
What are the presenting symptoms of prostate cancer?
Often asymptomatic at the start
- Lower urinary tract obstruction symptoms:
- Frequency
- Hesitancy
- Terminal dribbling
- Poor stream
- Nocturia
- Pain when urinating
What are signs of metastatic spread?
- Lower back and hip pain (vertebrae or pelvis)
- Malaise, weight loss, anorexia
- Cord compression
What are the signs on physical examination of prostate cancer?
DRE
- Asymmetrical hard nodular prostate
- Loss of midline sulcus
What are the appropriate investigations for prostate cancer?
- PSA (not specific)
- DRE
- Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy
- Bone scan
What are causes for an increased PSA?
- Trauma
- BPH
- UTI
- prostatitis
- surgical procedures
