What is prostate cancer? How to prevent it? How to diagnose and treat it scientifically?

Prostate cancer, which is mentioned in clinical practice, is one of the most common malignant tumors in men, seriously affecting their quality of life and life expectancy. With the aging of the population and changes in lifestyle in my country, the incidence of prostate cancer has increased year by year, which is a huge challenge to the current social development and personal health. So what is prostate cancer? How to prevent it? How to diagnose and treat it scientifically? Let's talk about this topic below, hoping it will be helpful to you.

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1. What is prostate cancer?

From a clinical medical perspective, prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in prostate tissue. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system, located below the bladder and surrounding the urethra. Its main function is to produce and secrete a fluid called prostatic fluid, which contains important components of sperm. Prostate cancer usually originates from the small glandular cells of the prostate, which are responsible for producing prostatic fluid. When these cells undergo abnormal proliferation and uncontrolled growth, tumors are formed. If these tumors continue to grow and spread to surrounding tissues or other parts, they are diagnosed as prostate cancer.

At present, the cause of prostate cancer is not fully understood, but factors such as age, family history, dietary habits and chronic inflammation are believed to be related to its risk. Early prostate cancer usually has no obvious symptoms, so regular prostate cancer screening is essential for early diagnosis and treatment.

2. How to prevent prostate cancer?

1. Healthy diet and physical exercise

Maintaining a balanced diet is very important for preventing prostate cancer. It is recommended to consume a rich intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and high-quality protein. At the same time, limit the intake of red meat and saturated fat, and reduce the consumption of processed foods and high-sugar foods. In addition, moderate physical exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and physical condition and reduces the risk of prostate cancer. It is recommended to perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, running, swimming, etc.

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2. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol

Smoking is considered one of the main risk factors for many cancers, including prostate cancer. Studies have shown that smoking is positively correlated with the risk of prostate cancer. Chemicals in tobacco can enter the body through smoking and have harmful effects on prostate tissue, increasing the risk of prostate cancer. Excessive drinking can lead to increased levels of androgens in the body, increasing the risk of the disease, so quitting smoking and limiting alcohol is particularly important.

3. Regularly check and control chronic inflammation

Regular prostate cancer screening is the key to prevention and early detection. Men should undergo regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and prostate examinations after the age of 40. If there is a family history or other high-risk factors, it is recommended to start screening earlier. As mentioned above, chronic prostatitis may be related to the occurrence of prostate cancer. Therefore, maintain good living habits and get enough rest to reduce the occurrence of chronic inflammation.

3. Scientific diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer

1. Early screening and diagnosis

To protect men's health, men over 40 are advised to undergo regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and prostate digital examinations to detect any abnormalities early. If the PSA value is elevated or the prostate digital examination is abnormal, further examinations may be required, such as prostate biopsy, which is a pathological examination of prostate tissue samples to determine whether cancer cells are present. Imaging examinations can include MRI, CT scans, and bone scans to assess the stage of the tumor and whether it has spread.

2. Staging and evaluation

In general, staging and evaluation are key steps to determine the severity and spread of prostate cancer. Commonly used staging systems include TNM staging, which is the most commonly used prostate cancer staging system. It is based on the presence of tumor (T), lymph nodes (N), and distant metastasis (M). Specific stages include T stage: used to describe the size and spread of the tumor. T1 means that the tumor is only present in the prostate, T2 means that the tumor is confined to the prostate but is larger, T3 means that the tumor has spread to surrounding tissues, and T4 means that the tumor has spread to adjacent structures. N stage: used to describe whether the lymph nodes are affected by the spread of the tumor. N0 means that there is no lymph node involvement, and N1 means that there is lymph node involvement. M stage: used to describe whether there is distant metastasis. M0 means that there is no distant metastasis, and M1 means that there is distant metastasis. As well as Gleason score and PSA level, the Gleason score observes the morphology of prostate cancer tissue under a microscope to evaluate its degree of cell differentiation and invasiveness. PSA is the abbreviation of prostate specific antigen, which is a commonly used marker for prostate cancer. The higher the PSA level, the more likely it is to indicate the presence or progression of prostate cancer. Through staging and evaluation, doctors can determine the severity and spread of prostate cancer and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

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3. Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. It can be external radiation therapy or internal radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses radiation from an external machine to shine on the area of ​​prostate cancer to kill cancer cells. This treatment usually requires multiple treatments, each lasting a few minutes. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive material placed inside the body to directly illuminate the tumor. Although radiation therapy is effective in killing cancer cells, it can also cause some common side effects, including frequent and urgent urination and bowel problems. Frequent and urgent urination occur because radiation therapy can irritate the bladder and urethra, causing problems with urine control. Bowel problems may include diarrhea, constipation, and rectal inflammation. These side effects usually lessen after treatment ends.

4. Surgical resection

Prostate cancer is usually removed surgically through a radical prostatectomy. During this procedure, the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues, such as lymph nodes, are removed. Surgical removal of the prostate is a common treatment, especially for men with early-stage prostate cancer. The goal of surgical removal of the prostate is to completely remove cancer cells from the patient's body in order to achieve a cure. Generally, the surgery is usually performed laparoscopically or robotically assisted laparoscopy, or it can be performed through open surgery. During the surgery, the doctor will remove the prostate, epididymis, and a portion of the vas deferens, as well as any lymph nodes that may have been invaded by cancer cells.

However, surgery to remove the prostate may cause some side effects. The most common of these are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. These side effects may gradually improve during the recovery process after surgery, but for some men, additional treatment or rehabilitation measures may be needed.

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5. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy

Chemotherapy and hormone therapy are often used in the treatment of patients with advanced or recurrent prostate cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. These drugs can be given to patients intravenously or orally, and enter the blood circulation, reach various parts of the body, and kill cancer cells. However, chemotherapy can also have a certain effect on normal cells, causing patients to experience nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and immune system suppression. Hormone therapy, on the other hand, stops the growth of prostate cancer by inhibiting the production or activity of male hormones (such as testosterone). Prostate cancer usually requires testosterone as a hormone required for growth. Hormone therapy can be achieved by surgically removing the testicles, taking medications, or injecting drugs. The side effects of hormone therapy vary from person to person and may include loss of libido, erectile problems, breast swelling, and osteoporosis. Therefore, patients need to be monitored and evaluated regularly during hormone therapy to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and the control of side effects.

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In conclusion, although prostate cancer is a serious disease, early diagnosis and treatment can improve the patient's survival rate and quality of life. Therefore, it is crucial to screen for prostate cancer as early as possible and take appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.