Prostrate Cancer Flashcards
What is a prostate?
The prostate is a gland. It is usually the size and shape of a walnut and grows bigger as you get older. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. This is the tube that carries urine out of the body. The prostate is designed to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm
What percent of men suffer with prostate cancer at some point in their lives ?
1/8 12.5%- most common cancer in men in the UK
Which age group does prostrate cancer mainly affect ?
Over 50 years old. The average for men to be diagnosed is between 65-69 years and
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
. Family history - men with father or brother diagnosed with prostrate cancer are 2.5x more likely to get it
. Ethnicity- black men are at highest risk of prostrate cancer. 1/4 men suffer from it at some point in their lives.
What is early prostrate cancer?
Early prostate cancer is confined within the capsule and rarely causes symptoms.
What is locally advanced prostrate cancer?
Locally advanced prostate cancer extends beyond the capsule of the prostate and is often asymptomatic when diagnosed.
What is metastatic prostrate cancer and what are the symtomps ?
Metastatic/ advanced cancer that has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body.
most frequently affects the bones, where it causes symptoms such as:
Bone pain, Fatigue, Feeling generally unwell, Unexplained weight loss, and Coughing or shortness of breath if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
When do symptoms of prostrate cancer typically begin and state them
When the prostrate is large enough to affect the urethra.
Symptoms include:
. Increased urgency to urinate
. Straining while you pee
. The feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied
. Blood in urine
Other than prostrate cancer, what are two other prostrate problems ?
. Enlarged prostrate
. Prostatitis - inflamed prostrate
What age is an enlarged prostrate most common in men and what can this cause to happen ?
. Most common in men over 50
. Causes change in urination
What test is usually first done to test for prostrate cancer?
PSA ( blood test) that measures the presence of Prostate-specific antigen circulating in your bloodstream.
What is the disadvantage of a blood PSA?
Low sensitivity - blood PSA is an inaccurate test for prostate cancer because cancer can be present without increased PSA levels, and PSA levels may be increased by conditions other than cancer (such as benign prostatic enlargement, prostatitis, and urinary tract infection).
What is watchful waiting and who is it aimed at?
Watchful waiting is aimed at people with localized prostate cancer who are either not suitable for, or do not wish to receive treatment, and instead involves the deferred use of hormone therapy.
What is active surveillance and what does it involve?
Active surveillance is a method of monitoring a patient with localised (early) prostatic cancer as prostrate cancer tends to grow slowly . The goal is to delay treatment until it’s necessary. Active surveillance involves :
-Regularly monitoring the patient’s condition with tests like blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies
Waiting for changes in test results to indicate that the condition is worsening
-Avoiding or delaying treatment options like surgery or radiation therapy
Treatment: what is radical prostatectomy?
The surgical removal of the entire prostrate gland and lymph nodes. This can be done by an open approach or keyhole technique (making a small incision)
