An Article About Advanced Prostate Cancer

Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 9:53 pm

Prostate cancer is a disease found in men typically over the age of fifty, it can finally kill and frequently doesn’t show any symptoms. It is present in the reproductive system of the male at the base of the bladder, the prostate is typically the size of a walnut. When the prostate is altered or starts to grow out of control then prostate cancer develops. At last prostate problems can spread to the lymph nodes and bones.

The sooner you find and diagnose prostate cancer the better chances you have of recovering. There are a number of factors that will determine the success of treatment with advanced prostate cancer such as the progression of the cancer once it is discovered, where the cancer is located, the age and health of the patient and the way the cancer reacts to treatment.

The marginal area of the prostate gland is often first influenced by prostate problems and this little area can not be felt on a digital anal examination. Nonetheless a prostate screening might possibly be able to pick it up or an ultrasound examination. This is why prostate cancer is in Stag One. As the cancer grows it will create abnormalities that can be felt during a digital rectal exam, it is at this time that the cancer has advanced to Stage Two. During both these stages the disease is restricted to the prostate gland and can be dealt with surgically, with radiation treatment, cryosurgery or ultrasound.

The disease will spread into surrounding tissues in the pelvic area as it continues to grow and eventually it will enter into Stage Three. Then when the prostate cancer is carried to other areas outside of the pelvic area it has reached Stage Four. During these two stages of the cancer it is considered to be advanced prostate cancer. In this time the handling of advanced prostate cancer is especially focused towards slowing the spread of the illness, providing the patient with quality of life and extending the individuals life as long as possible.

While Stage Three advanced prostate cancer can be successfully cured it is a difficult task due to the advanced nature of the disease. By this time the reality of the situation is largely just to focus on management of the illness and not actually curing it. The main form of treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormone treatment since prostate problems cells need male hormones to grow and this treatment relies on reducing the production of testosterone. In some advanced prostate cancer cases hormone care might not be effective or only have limited results at Stage 4 which then may mean that patients need systematic radiation therapy or chemotherapy.