Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in diagnosed in men. The prostate is a small gland below the bladder and is responsible for making seminal fluid, a component of semen. The urethra goes through the prostate, which carries urine and semen out of the penis. It is very common for men to have an enlarged prostate as they get older, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Sometimes, however, as the cells grow and divide, cancerous changes occur.
What Are The Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
Talk to your doctor if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms: increase in the frequency of urination, an intense need to urinate or feeling a sense of incomplete urination, inability to urinate, an interruption in the stream of the urine, burning or pain during urination, blood in the urine or semen, or painful ejaculation.
If you have any of these signs or symptoms, your doctor may perform a digital rectal exam (DRE), where a finger is inserted into the rectum to palpate the prostate. If it feels abnormal, an ultrasound and biopsy may be performed, as well as a blood test to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
What Happens After a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis?
After a diagnosis, several things may happen. You may have a CT scan or MRI to assess whether the cancer has spread elsewhere. Your Gleason score will also be calculated, which is a measurement of how aggressive your cancer is. Based on these results, as well as your family history and PSA value, your doctor will discuss with you some medical treatment options. Among these are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, brachytherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and active surveillance. A further explanation is below:
- Brachytherapy – brachytherapy on its own is used for early-stage localized prostate cancer. It involves small radioactive “seeds” implanted into the prostate, where the cancer cells receive radiation from within. It is also used with external beam radiation therapy.
- Androgen deprivation therapy – this is a hormone therapy that decreases the production of testosterone to prevent further growth of prostate cancer cells.
- Active surveillance – this may be suggested to you if you have early-stage disease (T1-T2), are over age 70, have a Gleason score of less than 6, and a PSA less than 10 ng/ml.
Complementary & Integrative Care of Prostate Cancer
Due to the side effects of surgery and radiation, it is extremely important to support the body with integrative treatments that decrease the side effects of these conventional therapies for prostate cancer. The overall goals of a holistic, integrative treatment plan for prostate cancer include:
- decreasing unwanted side effects of radiation, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue.
- decreasing the intensity of the side effects of surgery, such as urinary incontinence;
- managing the side effects of androgen deprivation therapy, such as weight gain and hot flashes;
- focus on bone health and prevent bone loss;
- manage weight to prevent recurrence;
- address metabolic concerns, such as diabetes or high cholesterol;
- implement exercise and nutritional program to reduce the risk of recurrence.
When you become a patient at the clinic, you receive a full personalized treatment plan. Call the clinic today at 403-202-7272 to get started.
