Prostate Cancer

What is Prostate Cancer?

• It is a condition characterized by abnormal growth of cells within an organ called the prostate gland. These cancer cells have the ability to invade surrounding organs and to distant sites. The prostate gland has a sexual function in men producing fluid essential for sperm motility. Prostate cancer is associated with advancing age and more commonly diagnosed in men over 50 years and in men with a family history of this disease.

What are the symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer maybe asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease. Over time, patients experience obstructive urinary symptoms which include:

• Difficulty or inability to pass urine
• Poor urinary stream and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
• Blood in urine
• Backache and numbness of the legs and feet
• Erectile dysfunction

How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?

• In men who have symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer, an appropriate referral to a medical practitioner or urologist is recommended. A definitive diagnosis is made by means of a prostate biopsy (sampling part of the prostate tissue for laboratory evaluation. Additional blood tests such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) are useful as an aid to diagnosis and for monitoring patients on treatment

What are the available Prostate Cancer screening options?

• For asymptomatic men over the age of 40 years, recommendation is for annual PSA checks and clinical examination by skilled health personnel namely general practitioners, urologists and oncologists. Men getting screening for prostate cancer should be counselled on the benefits of early diagnosis as well as the side effects of various treatment options available.