Prostate cancer

General characteristic of a disease

Prostate cancer or prostate cancer – the malignant disease caused by a hormonal imbalance in the man's organism, and in particular the increased testosterone level.

Symptoms of a prostate cancer are most often diagnosed for men 55 years are more senior. The exception is left by one of the most aggressive forms of a prostate cancer – prostate sarcoma. It can occur also at young men.

Origins of a prostate cancer are authentically not studied today. It is considered that increase in level of testosterone and formation of cancer nodes – explicit symptoms of a prostate cancer - is connected with disturbances in work of gipotalamo-pituitary system of the person. They lead to the general failures in process of synthesis of hormones and to formation of atypical cells. But the exact reason of these disturbances for medicine is not known.

To factors, provoking development of a prostate cancer, except age carry also genetic predisposition to a disease, the use of a large amount of fats of animal origin, an adverse ecological situation, and also existence at the man of chronic adenoma of a prostate.

The prostate cancer is characterized by a slow current. Usually from the moment of formation of a tumor before development of metastasises of a prostate cancer there pass not less than 10 years. More others are subject to a disease of the African-American man, Asians are least of all inclined to a prostate cancer.

Symptoms of a prostate cancer

Disease prematurity almost asymptomatic. With growth of a tumor the first symptoms of a prostate cancer – a problem with an urination begin to be shown. It can be complicated or speeded up depending on localization and the sizes of a tumor. At some forms of a prostate cancer at the patient the acute delay of an urination develops.

At spread of a tumor out of limits of body the prostate cancer can be followed by an incontience of the urine complicated by defecation, availability of blood in excrements. With metastasises carry also renal failure caused by germination of a tumor to mouths of ureters to symptoms of a prostate cancer.

At late stages of a prostate cancer symptoms of a disease are caused by mass distribution of metastasises to bones, lymph nodes, a liver, lungs. Thereof the patient with metastasises of a prostate cancer can have a strong pain syndrome, limited mobility, puffiness, exhaustion and anemia.

Diagnosis of a prostate cancer

The preliminary diagnosis "prostate cancer" is established on the basis of complaints of the patient and results of a manual rectal research. It is carried out by the doctor-urologist and in case of detection of nodes in a prostate the patient goes for further inspection.

The following step in diagnosis of a prostate cancer – the test for the level of the prostatic specific antigen (PSA). The increased concentration of this specific protein in the man's blood – one of symptoms of a prostate cancer. Normal the DOG level should not exceed 4 ng/ml.

By means of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUZI) it is possible to gain an exact impression about the sizes, a form and localization of a tumor. The final diagnosis "prostate cancer" is established on the basis of data of the biopsy which is carried out by means of introduction of the ultrasonic sensor with a needle through an anus of the patient.

For definition of a stage of a prostate cancer additional examinations are conducted: Ultrasonography, computer and magnetic and resonant tomography of bodies and lymph nodes of a basin, chest X-ray, computer scanning of bones of a skeleton.

Stages of a prostate cancer

Depending on extent of distribution of metastasises of a prostate cancer distinguish 4 stages of a disease.

I and II stages of a prostate cancer are characterized by localization of a tumor within a prostate. At the III stage of a prostate cancer the tumor metastasizes in the next lymph nodes, bodies and pelvic bones. Extensive innidiation in the remote bodies and lymph nodes is characteristic of the IV stage of a prostate cancer.

Except classification of a prostate cancer by stages there is also alphabetic TNM system for differentiation of tumors. "T" designates the sizes of a tumor, "N" - existence of metastasises of a prostate cancer in regional lymph nodes, and "M" - innidiation in other bodies.

Cancer therapy of a prostate

At a stage of a prostate cancer when the tumor is in limits of body, the major role is played by surgical treatment. The prostate cancer at an early stage is stopped by a radical prostatectomy – full removal of a prostate and nearby lymph nodes.

At high risk of a recurrence of a prostate cancer the patient goes for postoperative remote beam radiation. Except it in cancer therapy of a prostate at a stage of I and II also the brachytherapy – local beam radiation is used by radioactive granules.

In cancer therapy of a prostate with metastasises the main method – hormonal therapy. Its purpose – as much as possible to reduce testosterone level in an organism of the man and, thus, to stop progressing of a prostate cancer.

Hormonal cancer therapy of a prostate can be surgical with full removal of testicles (orkhiektomiya) or medicamentous. The second way of castration of the man is carried out by means of injections by the drugs blocking production of hormones in a hypophysis - testosterone stimulators. The maximum hormonal blockade in cancer therapy of a prostate is reached by complex use of both methods.

Hormonal cancer therapy of a prostate can continue up to 2 years, and only in case of nonsensitivity of a tumor to the patient's drugs with metastasises of a prostate cancer goes to chemotherapy. It can be oral or injection.

Strong pain syndrome – one of the most widespread complications of a prostate cancer with metastasises. Frequent practice in palliative (facilitating a state) cancer therapy of a prostate – purpose of analgetics, from simple to drugs of prescription narcotic group, so-called opiates.