prostate

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Scores 2 - 4: Low-grade cancer *
Scores 5 - 7: Intermediate- (or in the middle-) grade cancer. Most prostate cancers fall into this category.
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Scores 8 - 10: High-grade cancer (poorly-differentiated cells)
People who are at higher risk include:
*African-American men, who are also likely to develop cancer at every age * Men who are older than 60 *Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer
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Possible problems after the surgeries include difficulty controlling urine or bowel movements and erection problems.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.
Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream *
Dribbling or leakage of urine, most often after urinating *
Slow urinary stream *
Straining when urinating, or not being able to empty out all of the urine *
The PSA blood test is often done to screen men for prostate cancer. Because of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms.
Other people at risk include:
*Men exposed to agent orange exposure * Men who abuse alcohol * Farmers * Men who eat a diet high in fat, especially animal fat * Tire plant workers *Painters * Men who have been exposed to cadmium
The symptoms listed below can occur with prostate cancer (Most of the time these symptoms are caused by other prostate problems that are not cancer):
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Prostate cancer Cancer - prostate; Biopsy - prostate; Prostate biopsy; Gleason score
Last reviewed: September 23, 2010.
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Causes, incidence, and risk factors
SURGERY
Surgery is usually only recommended after a thorough evaluation and discussion of the benefits and risks of the procedure.
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Surgery to remove the prostate and some of the tissue around it is an option when the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland. This surgery is called radical prostatectomy. It can also be done with robotic surgery.
A common problem in almost all men as they grow older is an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). This problem does not raise your risk of prostate cancer. Symptoms
Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.
The PSA blood test will also be used to monitor your cancer after treatment. Often, PSA levels will begin to rise before there are any symptoms. An abnormal digital rectal exam may be the only sign of prostate cancer (even if the PSA is normal).
Prostate cancer that has spread may be treated with drugs to reduce teo remove the testes, or chemotherapy.
Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with sexual desire or performance. Problems with urine control are common after surgery and radiation therapy. These problems may either improve over time or get worse, depending on the treatment. Discuss your concerns with your health care provider.
In the early stages, talk to your doctor about several options, including surgery and radiation therapy. In older patients, simply monitoring the cancer with PSA tests and biopsies may be an option.
The Gleason grade is how aggressive the prostate cancer might be. It grades tumors on a scale of 1 - 5, based on how different from normal tissue the cells are.
There are two reasons your doctor may perform a prostate biopsy:
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Your PSA blood test is high. See also: PSA *
A rectal exam may show a large prostate or a hard, irregular surface. Because of PSA testing, prostate cancer is diagnosed during a rectal exam much less often.
Blood in the urine or semen *
Bone pain or tenderness, most often in the lower back and pelvic bones (only when the cancer has spread)
Signs and tests
Prostate biopsy is the only test that can confirm the diagnosis. Tissue from the prostate is viewed underneath a microscope. Biopsy results are reported using something called a Gleason grade and a Gleason score.
The following tests may be done to determine whether the cancer has spread: