Prostate Cancer: Early Detection Increases Treatment Success

• Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer in terms of cancer-related fatalities in men.
• Men over the age of 50 should undergo annual health checkups in order to screen for prostate cancer.
• In its early stages prostate cancer displays no outward symptoms. A thorough diagnosis from an oncologist is required to prevent the cancer from spreading to other organs.

Cancer is a dangerous disease which takes a huge number of lives. However, there are numerous forms of cancer which, if identified during their early stages, can be successfully treated. One such type is prostate cancer, a type of cancer for which the true causes remain unknown and for which there are usually no obvious symptoms during its initial stages. Prostate cancer tends only to be identified when patients undergo annual health checkups.

The prostate is an organ related to the male reproductive system, located close to the bladder. It is responsible for producing a secretion that provides balance to semen. As men age, the prostate gradually increases in size.

Symptoms

There will usually be no outward symptoms in patients suffering from early-stage prostate cancer, meaning that it often remains undiagnosed until the point where the cancer has deteriorated and spread to other organs.

If any of the following symptoms occur, a doctor’s appointment should be made immediately to undergo a detailed diagnosis:

• a frequent need to urinate, especially throughout the night
• small amounts of urine being passed which may also produce a stinging sensation
• urine passed containing blood
• bone pain

Causes

Although the true causes of prostate cancer remain unclear, there are numerous risk factors associated with the onset of this disease. Some of the key risk factors are as follows:

• male over the age of 50
• obesity
• regularly drinking alcohol
• smoking
• a diet high in fatty foods
• not consuming enough fruit and vegetables or not eating any at all
• family history of prostate cancer

Diagnosis

Diagnosis for prostate cancer is carried out with a blood test to identify prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is a substance produced by the organ, alongside a rectal examination that involves doctors inspecting the inside of a patient’s anus with their finger to assess the shape and form of the prostate.

Then, if an irregularity is identified, doctors will consider sending the patient for an MRI scan and taking a tissue sample from the prostate for further laboratory analysis. In cases where prostate cancer is confirmed, patients will be required to undergo additional tests to ascertain the cancer’s stage so that appropriate treatment can be carried out.

Treatment options

Initial stage prostate cancer can be successfully treated, but the chances of the patient making a full recovery depend on the individual’s health, age and body state.

• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can be used in cases where the cancer is not yet severe enough to warrant prostate surgery or chemotherapy.
• Surgery to remove the cancerous tissue offers effective results. This form of treatment is suited to those of a relatively young age, who are in good health and do not suffer from any other congenital health disorders that may affect the chances of a successful surgery. Surgery may take the form of an abdominal incision or an arthroscopic technique.
• Radiation therapy may be carried out in order to avoid major surgery in elderly cancer patients, or in those for whom surgery is not an option. Targeted radiation therapy is an effective choice which can be focused on external parts of the body, or by targeting the radiation onto the prostate directly.
• Monitoring the disease and its symptoms without providing any treatment may be a potential option for very old patients, as well as for patients for whom the cancer has not yet reached a serious stage.
• Hormone therapy refers to the use of hormonal medication to reduce testosterone levels. This treatment can be commenced during the initial onset of the disease and continued throughout the numerous stages of prostate cancer.
• Chemotherapy is usually utilized in cases where hormone therapy has been unsuccessful.
• A new class of hormone-blocking medication—not chemotherapy—for the treatment of prostate cancer in patients who have not responded to hormone-lowering therapy, for example, patients who have undergone an orchiectomy in which the disease has not yet reached the metastatic stage. This can help to slow the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of death, as well as preventing hair loss, preserving white blood cells, and providing the patient with good quality of life even while taking the medications.

Nevertheless, the doctor in charge of each individual case will be responsible for selecting the appropriate treatment. This may include using one or more of the aforementioned techniques alongside one another in order to ensure the greatest chance of success, as well as to prevent a recurrence of the cancer.

Although prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer in terms of being the biggest cause of cancer fatalities among men, the disease can be successfully treated if identified early enough. As the condition is symptomless during its initial stages, men should try to take good care of their health to ensure a healthy body by avoiding foods that are high in fat and by carefully managing their weight. Moreover, another vital aspect that should not be overlooked is to attend annual health checkups in order to screen for prostate cancer, especially in men over the age of 50 or those with a family history the disease.

Samitivej has a team ready to help and provide services for: 

• Treatment Plan Consultation with a doctor via online video-call (second opinion)
• Treatment Planning if you have medical records or a price estimate from another hospital 
• Cost Planning by our Appraisals Team with price guarantee (only for procedure packages without complications)
• Check Initial Coverage Eligibility with Thai and international insurance companies (only for insurance companies in contract with the Hospital)