What is Prostrate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize (spread) from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.
Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, erectile dysfunction, or death. Other symptoms can potentially develop during later stages of the disease.
Many men with prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other unrelated causes. Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
Symptoms of Prostrate Cancer
One of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer is frequent or uncontrollable urination.
One may also have the urge to urinate but find it either painful or difficult to do so.
Some prostrate tumors are usually accompanied with a hernia in the prostrate region.
In later stages, one may experience hip and lower back pain, and painful spasms while changing position.
How is it diagnosed?
Not many people are aware of how dangerous and and fast a killer Cancer is. However, over the past years awareness among men has increased.
If you are over 30 and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it would be advisable to visit a urologist.
He may suggest a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If your PSA level is higher than it should be a biopsy is usually the next suggestion, especially if a physical examination reveals a lump in the prostrate region.
Treatment for Prostrate Cancer
If the biopsy reveals a malignant tumor, it is best you follw the doctor's advice and check the stage of the illness. This can be measured by the Gleason Score during biopsy. A higher Gleason score reveals an active spreading tumor.
If you are in the first or second stage of the disease, you have two options: surgical castration or hormone therapy (medical castration).
Surgical castration is the surgical removal of the testicles. The aim is to cut off the source of nutrition to the cancer, in this case testosterone. Surgical castration is a quick means to end the tumor's parasitical life. It is also economical as it is a one time expense.
Medical castration is repression of testosterone by the injection of hormones into the blood. It achieves the same objective as surgical castration, but costs more as the injections have to be ministered either monthly or bi-monthly depending on your case.
What are the risks?
In case of surgical castration if you are at the end of the 2nd phase of your illness, where there may not be a way to tell if the cancer cells have infiltrated your skeletal system even minimally, it would be a waste, as once the cancer is in your bones it can find another source of nutrition other than testosterone.
Another risk of surgical castration is the spread of cancer to the near internal organs such as the urinary bladder or stomach.
Medical castration, in comparison is a safer bet. However medical castration or hormone therapy only works to a certain extent. It cannot control testosterone production indefinitely, especially if you are in the 3rd stage of illness.
Is there a cure?
For 1st stage cancer and early in the 2nd stage, surgery can be a cure.
Past the 2nd stage there is sadly no cure for this type of cancer. However you can prolong your life and improve the quality of your life for as along as you have.
Are there any other forms of treatment?
Yes.
First, you would have to either decide on surgery or hormone therapy.
Second, if the cancer has made its way into the bone, you would be suggested radiation for the affected area.
More precise radiation is called Strontium Therapy which can also be tried.
If the cancer has made its way into the internal organs, chemotherapy is suggested.
Are there side effects?
As with any drugs, yes there are.
Radiation causes loss of weight, nausea, severe flatulence, diarrhoea, decrease in blood count, sleeplessness, and general fatigue. It depends on the extent and area of radiation.
Chemotherapy causes skin rashes, severe nausea, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, overall weakness, decrease in blood count, depression, and hair fall from the 2nd dose.
The good news is that there are now oral chemotherapy drugs on the market which can be consumed at home, the side effects of which are not that severe as the injection.
These are not cures!
Ozone therapy is just rejuvenation therapy. Although a lot has been said about its good effects, it is most definitely not a cure for cancer. However it has proven in some cases to alleviate pain, and decrease the patient's bodily fatigue.
Homeopathy cannot cure cancer. Neither can herbal remedies. They can only help to control the pain of later stages of cancer.
There are a number of cures listed on the internet. These are only optimistic attempts to achieve the evasive goal of cancer eradication. They are not to be believed even if you are grasping at straws.
How does the illness progress? What can I expect? How do I live with this?
It can only go downhill. But how you deal with it makes all the difference. If you are afraid, angry, or depressed, you only given into the parasite more willingly.
If you remain cheerful, optimistic, positive, take one day at a time, surround yourself with your hobbies, pets, loved ones, and favourite things, and rely on God to make things better, you can last longer and stay happy longer even through the pain.
Even while taking treatment, you need to constantly monitor your PSA level to see if the cancer is in check. If it spikes, you need to go in for more aggressive treatment.
Besides the side effects of your treatment, you will have to deal with a shift in weight, a gaunt look, and a change in your overall appearance including baldness and patchy skin. Prepare yourself for this.
You may have to limit your activities: lifting weights, bending, running, long walks, other strenuous activities. If you can't, don't. If you are tired, rest. If you are angry, scream. If you are sad, cry out. Release your emotions. Don't try to hold anything in. Repression never did anyone any good.
You may be confined to a wheelchair in time, or to your bed. If you are on welfare apply for medical benefits beforehand. If you have monetary help or are self sufficient see that you equip yourself with aids to make your life better and still retain some form of independence such as a walking stick, an armchair, a walker, an intercom, toiletry aids, hand pulleys, etc.
Make the best of your situation. The body can adjust to anything. It only needs to learn.
In later stages you may experience pain. It may increase in time. You will have to grit your teeth and ride it out.
There are many pain relief aids on the market today:
- radiation
- radio-isotope drugs
- morphine patches
- oral pain medication
- pain relief applications
- dyathermia belts
- ozone therapy
- homeopathic pills
- Herbal concoctions
- physiotherapy
You may grow listless, irritable, depressed, and afraid. This is a normal reaction to the drugs you have to take and to the illness in general.
Ultimately remember: your life is in God's hands.
What is Metastases? How is it treated?
Metastases is the spread of cancer to the bone and its consequent effect on bone tissue. What the cancer does is eat into the bone, down into the marrow. This is what causes the pain in prostrate cancer skeletal metastases. Your bones in the course of time become a series of hollow shells.
The common effects of metastases is bone pain, fractures, and loss of strength.
To guard against fractures, your doctor may suggest a monthly shot of Zoledronic acid, which has been found to actually guarantee its claim for at least 3 years. It is a good drug and has minimal side effects.
Certain medical studies have shown that Vitamin C injections have helped prevent further metastases. However, you will have to find where in your area such injections are administered.
How long do I have to live?
The survival rate for prostrate cancer patients is between 3 to 5 years depending on your case and stage of illness.
Tips for helpers and caregivers
It has been medically proved that in caring for loved ones affected with terminal illnesses, the caregiver suffers grave psychological trauma.
Your patient may start off optimistic, but may in time grow depressed. Once depression sets in, so does stubbornness. This is a way of releasing emotions, a way of proving to themselves that they still have it in them, that they will not succumb, that they are not weaklings.
When ego and self confidence take a beating, the worst defects in our nature surface, as we find this is the only strong and ugly part of us fit enough to fight against the disease.
3 words for the caregiver: Patience, kindness, and unconditional love - This is what your patient needs.
He/She may yell at you, insult you, call you names, lie about you to others, grow paranoid and doubt you in the later stages of debilitation. Always know this is not the patient's attitude to you but the anger at the disease.
Steel yourself against emotional outbursts and negative behaviour. If your patient represses emotions, how can he/she survive? A balloon can only take in so much air before it bursts.
To give comfort to someone in pain, confined to a bed, terminally ill, waiting to die is no easy task. You will need the patience of Job, Samaritan kindness, and the unconditional love of our Lord to see you through these dark times.
Do not treat your patient as a china doll. They are not breakable. Give them free reign over what they want to do. If they are still mobile, take them for short trips, picnics, parties.
Always Remember
Do not research more about your illness. The modes of treatment and their side effects are cut and dried. There is no known cure for cancer, only means to prolong life and improve the time you have.
Consult your doctor on a regular basis. Share your doubts with him. Ask him questions. Take up as much of his time as you can.
Do not skip any tests or check ups.
Do not waste your time worrying about how much time you have. Live life to the fullest in the present.
Respect your caregiver.
Maintain a positive outlook in every situation though it may seem impossible. It is only hope that keeps the human soul intact.
Some helpful links:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/PSA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostatectomy
http://www.tc-cancer.com/orch.html
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/radical-inguinal-orchiectomy-for-testicular-cancer
http://www.expresspharmaonline.com/20020725/corpmon3.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5519994_side-effects-using-lupride-depot.html
http://m.medindia.net/drug/drug.asp?id=832
http://www.us.zometa.com/index.jsp?
usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=4029462041662314019
http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-
cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/internal/types/radioactive-strontium-therapy
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