What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer

By R. Alex Hsi M.D.

What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer includes information on the anatomy of the prostate, prostate cancer screening and diagnosis, prostate cancer treatment options, prostate cancer genetics and diet and nutrition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098390730

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© 2021 R. Alex Hsi, M.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Print ISBN: 978-1-09839-072-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-09839-073-0

Table of Contents

I. Background

II. Screening and Diagnosis

III. Staging and Risk Stratification

IV. Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Active Surveillance and Watchful Waiting

Radical Prostatectomy

Cryotherapy

Radiation Therapy

Systemic Therapy

V. Prostate Cancer Genetics

VI. Diet, Nutrition and Prostate Cancer

VII. Prostate Cancer Websites

I. Background

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy (other than skin cancer) diagnosed in American men. One man out of every six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. On an annual basis, approximately 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States and just over 30,000 will die of prostate cancer. These statistics show that prostate cancer is a widely variable disease. It has the potential to grow and spread quickly, but for most men, it is a relatively slow growing disease. It is important for patients to discuss with their doctors the various aspects of their particular type of prostate cancer to understand how aggressive it is and how best to treat it.

The following pages of this booklet will review the basics of prostate anatomy; prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment; prostate cancer genetics; prostate cancer nutrition; and useful internet resources.

A Note on the Importance of a Multidisciplinary Approach

A natural reaction to receiving the news of a diagnosis of cancer is to act immediately. For the vast majority of patients with prostate cancer, however, treatment is not needed urgently. In addition, once a man talks to others about his diagnosis, invariably he will receive advice from relatives or acquaintances who have either undergone or know someone who has undergone prostate cancer treatment. Although this anecdotal experience can be useful, it can also lead a man astray since the experience of others may not apply to his particular situation. Treatments and outcomes can be widely variable depending on a multitude of factors including PSA, Gleason score, clinical stage as well as other preexisting health problems (called comorbidities) to name a few. Given the wide variety of treatment options today, a patient should take the time to research his options and discuss them with prostate cancer specialists. It is important to consult with a urologist, radiation oncologist and sometimes a medical oncologist before making a treatment decision as each physician has different insights into the pros and cons of each treatment option. Ideally, a patient should go to a center that offers a multidisciplinary clinic that specializes in prostate cancer management. The best treatment decisions come from patients who are well educated and well informed about their cancer!

Anatomy

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is located beneath the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum (see Figure 1). The function of the prostate is to make the majority of the fluid in semen. Just above and behind the prostate are the seminal vesicles. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, runs through the prostate. The activity and growth of the prostate is stimulated by male hormones called androgens. The main androgen is testosterone, which is produced by the testicles.

Figure 1 – Prostate Anatomy

Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases the risk of developing a certain disease. However, having a risk factor does not mean an individual will get that disease and, in fact, most men with prostate cancer risk factors will still never develop this disease. Much research has been done around the significance of certain prostate cancer risk factors, but some still remain controversial. Some prostate cancer risk factors include the following:

Age over 65 – this is the main risk factor for prostate cancer. The older a man gets, the more likely he will develop prostate cancer. This disease is rare in men under 45 years of age.

Family History – the risk of prostate cancer is higher if a man has a) first degree relatives such as a father