An Examination of Prostate Cancer

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Running head: PROSTATE CANCER

An Examination of Prostate Cancer

Matthew Kelly

Red River College

Table of Contents

Prostate Cancer..................................................................................................4

Symptoms.......................................................................................................5

Diagnosis.........................................................................................................6

Treatment.......................................................................................................7

Prevention.......................................................................................................9

Conclusion................................................................................................... 11

References.....................................................................................................12

Biblography...................................................................................................13

Abstract

Prostate cancer is an escalating concern for men in society. This form of cancer is a complex disease that affects three out of ten men in their thirties and forties. Pain, erectile dysfunction, incontinence and weight loss are only some of the issues that men with prostate cancer and their families must deal with on a daily basis. The etiology of prostate cancer is still unknown, but some of the risk factors include age, race, sexual activity levels and diet. Preventive measures are important for men and their families to make themselves aware of as there are risk variables that they can control. There are currently several treatment options available to men suffering with prostate cancer such as monitoring, radiation, surgery and hormones.

An Examination of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and fourth leading cause of cancer death amongst the male population worldwide (Landis & Retal, 1998). Parkin, Feraly, Raymond, and Young (cited in Crowe & Costello, 2003). Stated that prostate cancer is also the most common type of cancer diagnosed in males in the western world and the second leading cause of male deaths worldwide associated with cancer. The early warning signs of malignant prostate cancer are often difficult to differentiate from benign prostate enlargement (Boswick, MacLennan, & Larson, (1996). However, some of the early warning signs include "difficulty or pain passing urine; needing to pass urine more often; weight loss; soreness in their bones or pelvis; and/or blood in their urine or semen" ("Conditions", 2002, p.9). If a male is presenting with these symptoms it is recommended that he be tested for prostate cancer. Currently, there are several tests that physicians can use to detect the presence of an enlarged prostate. The most common tests are a digital exam, a prostate-specific antigen test, biopsy and transrectal ultrasound (Boswick, MacLennan, and Larson, 1996).

The symptoms and diagnosis of prostate cancer are only the beginning stages of most men's journey through the experience of dealing with prostate cancer. The treatment of prostate cancer is often the most difficult and painful for patients and their families. This stage of their experience is not uncomplicated due to the hugely debated position on best practice for early stage prostate cancer. To date, there are three options for doctors when treating prostate cancer. These options are monitoring, radio therapy and prostate removal, also known as radical prostectomy ("Conditions," 2002). After a formal diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is important for patients and their partners to be prepared for the side effects of treatment. As well they need to be educated on the preventative measures that they can engage in to decrease their risk of the cancer returning. This paper will explore and discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention that surround prostate cancer.
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Symptoms

The prostate is a sex gland only found in men that has several different functions. The prostate is part of the urinary and reproductive systems (also known as the urogenital system). It also produces prostatic fluid and acts as a valve that allows sperm and urine to travel in the correct direction out of the urethra. The prostate is not a vital organ but if given the choice, most men do not want it removed due to the possibility of erectile complications (Boswick, et al., 1996).

Calabrese (2004) stated that the early stages of ...

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