CANCER - Diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer

One in nine men in Australia will develop prostate cancer 

in their lifetime. Treatment can include watchful waiting, 

surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

Prostate cancer is most common in men over 50 but younger men with a history of prostate cancer are also at risk.

A number of tests are used to diagnose prostate cancer.

These include:

• Physical examination.
• Blood test to assess the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood.
• Digital rectal examination (DRE) – your doctor will feel your prostate through your rectum to find out if there are any abnormalities.
• Prostate biopsy – tissue samples are taken and sent to a lab to find out if there are cancerous cells.
• Ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scans to see if the cancer has spread.

Treatment depends on age, general health, if the cancer has spread and, if so, by how much.

Options include:

• Active monitoring (or 'watchful waiting') – no treatment but involves regular check-ups and PSA tests.
• Surgery – a common treatment. Radical prostatectomy is when the whole prostate is removed. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is also necessary at times when part of the prostate cancer is pressing on the urethra.
• Radiotherapy – X-rays destroy cancer cells.
• Brachytherapy – radioactive seeds are placed within the prostate to kill the tumour.
• Hormone therapy – blocks the action of testosterone to slow the growth of tumours.

All treatments involve side effects.

You may be able to decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer if you:

• Quit smoking
• Eat a healthy diet with less meat and dairy
• Exercise

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/