What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
Updated on September 19, 2024
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Early-stage prostate cancer generally has no symptoms, but if the patient also has prostate enlargement, or in cases of mid to late-stage prostate cancer where the tumor invades the urethra or bladder, various degrees of urinary obstruction or irritative urinary symptoms may occur. This is characterized by frequent urination and urgency. If there are local infiltrative symptoms, perineal pain and sciatica might occur. If the vas deferens is compressed, it can cause back pain and pain in the testicles on the affected side. Invasion of the rectum can cause difficulty in defecation or obstruction of the colon, and if the membranous part of the urethra is involved, urinary incontinence may occur. The most common site of metastasis for prostate cancer is the bones. If it spreads to the bones, it can cause bone pain, pathological fractures, anemia, and spinal cord compression leading to paralysis of the lower limbs.

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Oncology
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Best treatment methods for prostate cancer

Treatment methods for prostate cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy, among others. The choice of specific treatment methods is comprehensively considered based on the stage of the disease and the patient's physical condition. Early-stage prostate cancer patients can choose prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy. For patients with locally advanced T3 or T4 stage prostate cancer, since the efficacy of prostatectomy alone is relatively poor, radiotherapy combined with endocrine therapy can be chosen. For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, those who are found to have bone metastasis or distant metastasis from the onset, endocrine therapy is primarily used. If endocrine therapy is ineffective or fails, chemotherapy can also be adopted for these late-stage metastatic prostate cancer patients. If the bone metastasis causes pain, local radiotherapy can also be used to alleviate the pain symptoms.

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Oncology
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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

How is prostate cancer treated? The choice of treatment plan should be based on a comprehensive consideration of the patient's clinical stage, age, overall health, and expected lifespan. For example, in the early stages of prostate cancer, one can choose postoperative radical radiotherapy after prostatectomy. For locally advanced prostate cancer, radiotherapy, intensified radiotherapy combined with endocrine therapy can be chosen. For metastatic prostate cancer, endocrine therapy is mainly used, and chemotherapy can be adopted for those who are ineffective or fail endocrine therapy.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
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What causes prostate cancer?

The current causes of prostate cancer are not completely understood, but a large amount of research indicates that genetic and environmental factors play a significant role. Dietary factors, such as the intake of a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids, vasectomy, smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption, also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Overall, the occurrence and development of prostate cancer are related to various factors, including both internal causes in the patient and the influence of external factors.

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Oncology
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Is prostate cancer prone to metastasis?

Prostate cancer most commonly metastasizes to bones, with multiple bone metastases frequently observed clinically. In fact, the majority of prostate cancer patients already have multiple bone metastases by the time they are diagnosed. Therefore, bone is the most common distant organ to which prostate cancer spreads. Other distant organ metastases, such as to the lungs and liver, are less common, unless in very advanced stages of the disease. Additionally, prostate cancer commonly invades locally, spreading to nearby pelvic structures and tissues, such as the bladder and rectum, which is a common form of local invasion and spread.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can prostate cancer be detected by a CT scan?

If a CT scan is performed for prostate cancer, it usually can detect the tumor in the prostate, especially an enhanced CT scan will show enhancement. However, to confirm the diagnosis, it is still necessary to perform a prostate biopsy to find cancer cells. Only with the detection of cancer cells can prostate cancer be diagnosed. Additionally, a blood test for the tumor marker PSA, which generally increases, can be used in combination with these findings for a comprehensive evaluation. The definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer requires a biopsy to find cancer cells, which is the gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer.