What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate, a small gland in men that creates seminal fluid to nourish and transport sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men and typically grows slowly in the prostate gland.
When prostate cancer is detected early and confined to the prostate gland, there’s a better chance of successful treatment.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer might not show any symptoms in the early stages. More advanced prostate cancer might have symptoms including:
- Difficulty urinating
- Blood in the semen
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Bone pain
- Erectile dysfunction
If you have any of these symptoms or concerns, visit our team for an evaluation and prostate cancer testing, such as a PSA test, digital rectal exam, MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy.
What causes prostate cancer?
The cause of prostate cancer isn’t definitive, but doctors know that cancer starts when certain cells in the prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the DNA of these abnormal cells cause the cells to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells.
The abnormal cells continue accumulating and form a tumor that can grow and invade surrounding tissue. Some abnormal cells can break off and spread to other areas of the body.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
There are a number of factors that might increase your risk of developing prostate cancer, including:
- Age
- Family history of prostate cancer
- Obesity
Our team works with you to lower your risk of prostate cancer. Regular screening, frequent exercise and eating a healthy nutrient-rich diet are highly encouraged.
What are the treatments for prostate cancer?
Depending on the aggressiveness (grade) of your cancer, your overall health, and how fast your cancer is growing, our team might recommend various treatment methods, such as:
- Watchful waiting or active surveillance, which involves monitoring the progress of your cancer with screenings and testing
- Radiation using high-powered energy to kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy
- Biological therapy
- Hormone therapy to stop testosterone production (cancer cells rely on testosterone to assist growth)
- Surgery to remove the prostate
Surgery for prostate cancer involves removing your prostate gland, some lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue. We use the revolutionary da Vinci® robotic-assisted system to perform prostate cancer surgery.
In this procedure, the doctor uses hand controls to guide the robotic arms and surgical instruments of the da Vinci system. The surgery is displayed on a high-definition monitor. The da Vinci robotic surgery allows for more precise movements, smaller incisions, and a faster recovery time.
Book your prostate cancer screening online or call the office today.
