Symptoms of prostate cancer. How can you recognize?

Prostate, so the prostate is an integral part of the male reproductive system. This organ has many functions, therefore, symptoms of prostate cancer spread to many systems and other organs. 99% of the cases diagnosed cancers in this case, the adenocarcinoma, is a malignant neoplasm arising from glandular cells. It is possible that the disease will develop from the epithelium in this case diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. In the early stages of the disease diagnosis is difficult because the typical symptoms are absent. At the same time the patient can reduce the risk (as it is known, in the later stages of the cancer is practically incurable), if the disturbing symptoms of any severity will be discussed with the doctor or become a reason for medical examination.

Risk groups and preventive measures

The main risk factor in this case is age. So, after crossing the 50-year milestone in the risk of developing prostate cancer increases rapidly, but most cases occur in patients after the age of 65, and in patients at a young age the diagnosis is uncommon. In addition, the causes of prostate cancer are rooted in the dietary risk for those who abuse the red meat and fats and ignore the vegetables and fruits. At risk and those representatives of the stronger sex, who drink too much calcium. But substances such as selenium and vitamins E and b can significantly reduce the risk of this disease. Aggravating factor and is considered to be hereditary, especially if the disease was diagnosed many relatives at a young age. At the same time, physical activity and the desire to maintain a healthy weight reduce risk factors.

Reasons are also carcinogenic effects, as well as a progressive hyperplasia of the prostate. Sexual activity to a predisposition to cancer, is not affected, while there is a relationship between predisposition and the amount of androgens (male sex hormones) in the blood serum.

The main symptoms of prostate cancer

First cancers affects the peripheral zone of the prostate, so does not show. The growth of the tumor leads to symptoms, which can be divided into three broad groups:

• associated with urination (infravesical obstruction). Occur if the tumor compresses the urethra. Initial symptoms also can be intermittent and weak urine stream, difficulty or frequent urination, urinary incontinence, tenesmus, and lack of relief after urinating,
• associated with progressive tumor growth. Occur when the tumor grows to the point that "grows" from the prostate gland and enters the surrounding tissue. At this stage, you may see blood in semen or urine (hemospermia and hematuria), urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, pain in the perineum and pubis,
• metastases in prostate cancer is also "responsible" for a group of symptoms. In this case, the prognosis for recovery is poor, because the disease is already at an advanced stage. This period is characterized by anemia, cachexia (severe weight loss), lymphedema (swelling of the lower extremities), bone pain, loss of appetite, physical stamina.

At the beginning of the disease symptoms of prostate cancer are non-specific they can be easily attributed to the manifestations of other diseases: adenoma, prostatitis, cystitis. Disturbing signs, stable in time, appear only when the tumor growth and metastatic process. The disease progresses slowly, so the first stage usually goes unnoticedthe main symptoms can grow in the next few years.

Precancerous changes can be detected only if to be tested for prostate cancer. This blood test for the detection of prostate specific antigen increase in its levels tells about specific changes in the body.

The growth of the tumor can manifest such signs of prostate cancer:

• frequent night urination,
• difficulty urinating at night and subsequently day,
• the increase in the amount of residual urine,
• progressive weight loss,
• during germination of metastasis, the formation of kidney stones, pain in the limbs and even paralysis if the process is spinal cord involvement).

Classification of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer can be classified according to several characteristics. So, the final diagnosis will depend on the ratio in the tumor connective tissue and epithelial components of squamous cell carcinoma and share adenocarcioma.

But most often the classification of prostate cancer affect the stage of the disease:

• for the first stage clinical manifestations are not typical, the diagnosis can be established by accident in the survey
• the second stage is characterized by the absence of metastasis. The disease can be detected by rectal examination and confirm the diagnosis using a biopsy
• all of the above symptoms are pronounced exactly in the third stage of the disease. The diagnosis is also confirmed by the biopsy. The tumor at this stage grows lateral pelvic wall, bladder base and seminal vesicles. In fifty percent of cases are diagnosed with metastases in the retroperitoneal and pelvic lymph nodes,
• pronounced dysuric disorders characteristic of the fourth stage. At this stage metastases are often striking bone they can spread hematogenous and lymphogenous ways. In 70% of cases the serum of the blood contains elevated levels of acidic fosfaty.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer can be detected and in the early stages this can help the correct diagnosis comprehensively carried out. Among the methods of early diagnosis are noted:

• determination of the level of prostatespecific antigen in serum,
• transrectal ultrasonic scanning,
• a digital rectal examination.

Each of these methods is not a reason to set final diagnosis, but only allows to suspect the disease and serves to conduct further examinations.

The only method that definitively confirm or disprove the diagnosis is a biopsy performed through the perineum, urethra or rectum. This study allows also to determine the degree of proliferation of the primary tumor. To determine the location of metastases using computed tomography, retinography, radioisotope scan of bone tissue, excretory urography.