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Care Plan
First steps to consider
- Prostate cancer should be diagnosed and treated by a team of urologists and radiation and medical oncologists (cancer specialists).
- See a healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms or history:
- Unexplained weight loss or fatigue
- Excruciating back or bone-related pain
- Difficulties urinating
- Blood in your urine
Emergency Care
Go to the ER if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Unable to urinate
- Blood and clots in your urine
- Sudden muscle weakness
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is the walnut-sized organ in males that sits beneath the bladder and penis. It makes fluid that is secreted with sperm in the ejaculate. Prostate cancer occurs when the prostate cells turn cancerous.
Prostate cancer can sometimes be deadly, but in the U.S., the survival rates are excellent. Both the 5- and 10-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 98%.
Detecting the disease early is important. It is more likely to be deadly if it spreads to other organs. Prostate cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms in the early stages, so you should be screened for it at your yearly physical.
Symptoms
Early-stage prostate cancer usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. In the later stages of the disease, you may experience:
- Difficulty when starting to urinate
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Feeling like you have to urinate constantly or urgently
- Dribbling after urination
- Trouble getting an erection
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Bone pain and fractures (in later stages if the cancer spreads to the bones)
How is prostate cancer detected early?
Prostate cancer screening is recommended in men from 55–79 years old, sometimes earlier depending on risk factors. It consists of a digital rectal exam or DRE and a blood test known as a prostate specific antigen (PSA).
- Your provider should perform a DRE as part of your yearly physical exam. During this exam, the provider gently places their finger in the rectum and feels the back side of the prostate (where the cancer generally occurs). If they feel an irregularity or hard nodule, they will want to run other tests to confirm if it is prostate cancer.
- While PSA is made by all prostate cells, it is higher in men with prostate cancer. If the PSA is high or suddenly increases from normal levels, it may be an early sign of prostate cancer. But there can be other reasons for its increase. Your provider will interpret your PSA results.
Causes of prostate cancer
It’s not known what causes prostate cancer. It develops when normal prostate cells have changes in their DNA, which controls how the cells function. These changes, or mutations, can be inherited from a parent or happen during a person’s lifetime.
Risk factors
- Older age. Most prostate cancers (60%) occur in men ages 65 and older.
- Race. In the U.S., African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry have the highest risk of prostate cancer than any other race. In these men, the disease tends to start at a younger age. They’re also more likely to die from prostate cancer.
- Family history. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease.
- Chemical exposure. Prostate cancer has been linked to exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical spray used during the Vietnam War.
Diagnosis and treatment
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We show you only the best care options for your condition and symptoms—all vetted by our medical team. And when you’re not sure what’s wrong, Buoy can guide you in the right direction.See all treatment optionsPreventative tips
There are no proven ways to completely prevent prostate cancer. The best form of prevention is early detection. Be sure to get a yearly physical, which includes screening tests for prostate cancer.
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