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As only men have prostate glands, this type of cancer only occurs in men. It affects 1 out of every 6 men, and the risk of incidence increases with age; 60% of new cases occur in men over the age of 70. Most of the time, prostate cancer grows very slowly, though sometimes it can grow and spread very quickly. Scans such as the digital rectal exam, blood tests, tissue samples and CT or MRI scans are used to diagnose and identify which type of cancer it is, and how far it has progressed.
Some common symptoms of prostate cancer are:
- blood in the urine or semen
- frequent urination, especially at night
- constant pain or stiffness in the back, hips or thighs
- painful ejaculation
There are several treatments for prostate cancer, both surgical and non-surgical, including medical treatment such as hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Surgical methods include cryoablation, which kills the cancer cells by repeatedly freezing and thawing them, and removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissues, either through open surgery or laparoscopically (using special instruments through small incisions in the body). The best method for treating the cancer is chosen after taking the patient’s age, health, stage of the cancer and possible side effects into consideration to determine an optimal approach.
Below is a distribution of the 5 most common cancers in males diagnosed and/or treated at AUBMC from 1983 till 2003:
Shamseddine A. Tumor Registry 20 Years of Service, American University of Beirut Medical Center, 1998-2003.
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