Prostate cancer has a distinguishing feature. This cancer has a very slow and malignant spread rate. From the moment of occurrence of a small tumor in the prostate up to the last stage of a cancer usually passes 10-15 years. On the other hand, the prostate cancer can give metastasis on early stages that result in cancer cells distribution through the entire human body.
Usually, cancer dilatation goes in lymph node, bones, lungs and liver. This effect of cancer is the most dangerous for organism. Before metastasis appears, it is possible to remove the tumor and stop disease. But if metastasis has appeared, no surgeon can remove it, and it is impossible to cure the man completely.
The problem is that the prostate cancer symptoms start disturbing the man when the prostate cancer is advancing and there is the outside chance for the total treatment. Prostate cancer may come out by frequent urination, perineum pain, blood in the urine and sperm. But there may be no prostate cancer symptoms at all. And then the first manifestation of a disease will be pain in bones and breastbone, which are distinctive for metastasis.
In advanced forms of prostate cancer acute retention of urine and symptoms of cancer intoxication (the man slenderizes, languishes, his skin becomes very pale) can appear. Less often, prostate cancer symptoms are impotence and weak erection, reduction of sperm volume during ejaculation.
Every man needs total and balanced information on prostate cancer. Prostate cancer screening helps him make further steps. Prostate cancer screening contributes to finding and treating prostate cancer early, when treatment might be more effective.
Prostate cancer staging considers tumor size, cancer cell features, and the metastasis dilatation. The most broadcasted system of prostate cancer staging is Jewett-Whitmore system. This system divides cancer development into 5 stages.
1) On the A stage there are no prostate cancer symptoms, cancer cells are not distributed: on the A1 stage in the prostate a few cancer cells are located, on the stage A2 cancer cells appear in several places in the prostate
2) On stage B cancer cells affect only the prostate and they may be detected. On the B0 level cancer cells respond to detection by the prostate-specific antigen test. On the B1 stage in one lobe of the prostate cancerous node may be found. On the B2 stage cancer cells are found in the two prostate lobes.
3) On the stage C cancer cells are revealed out of the bounds of the prostate. On the C1 stage cancer cells spread in the nearby tissues. On the C2 level problems with bladder and urethra appear.
4) When the patient is on the stage D, his lymph nodes, bones or organs are affected with cancer. The D0 stage displays located metastasis. On the D1 stage cancer cells are found in surrounding lymph nodes. With the help of the lymph system on the D2 stage the cancer is spread to internal bodies and bones. The D3 stage shows the presence of metastasis after the medical treatment.
Prostate cancer statistics are shocking: prostate cancer is diagnosed in 1 in 5 males over the age of 75. Unfortunately, this disease is one of the most frequent reasons of death among elderly males.