NEW DELHI: Prostate gland is situated in the lower part of the bladder in men in the exit pathway of the urine where there are three zones in prostate central zone, transitional zone and peripheral zone. Harmless noncancerous bulkiness of this gland called benign prostate hypertrophy hyperplasia occurs in the transitional zone and causes urinary obstructive complaints. This is associated with very mild increase in PSA levels in blood and smooth enlargement of the prostate on examination. Less than 5 of prostate cancers arise from the central zone while peripheral zones constitute more than 70 of the glandular material in prostate and is the most common site of prostate cancer occurrence hence, mostly they are asymptomatic. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Mathangi J, HOD and Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital in Bengaluru, explained, Once the lesion advances increases in size, and grows towards the central areas around urethra the tube through urine flows out of the bladder it creates obstructive urinary complaints like , problem in starting urination, slow stream of urine, increased frequency of urination at nights, etc. It is associated with a rise in a chemical called PSA Prostate Specific Antigen in the blood.
It usually correlates with the burden of the disease in the body but when the tumour becomes high grade or loses its differentiation or identity, PSA levels may not correlate with tumour burden. She elaborated, Sometimes, men also experience blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction and are not able to control their urine. When the cancer becomes advanced and starts spreading elsewhere, the most common organ affected is bones. Most of the men in India are diagnosed in stage 4 with bone metastases because of the bony pain or fracture of the weight bearing bones. When the prostate cancers become aggressive and dedifferentiated into high grade, it may also spread to lymph nodes, lungs etc. This will result in breathing difficulty or chest pain in few patients. Overall, when the tumour burden in the whole body raises, it will also result in complaints like loss of appetite, generalised weakness and loss of weight. According to her, the ideal way of getting screened for prostate cancers is not to ignore urinary obstructive complaints if any and to get a PSA done in your annual health check up after discussing it with your doctor.
She concluded, It s a simple blood test. Keeping yourself physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy with low fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables are fewer ways to protect yourself from prostate cancer. As per Dr M Srinivas Reddy, Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Kamineni Hospitals in Hyderabad, Prostate cancer symptoms can include difficulty urinating, frequent urination, a burning sensation during urination, and sometimes pain in the lower back and pelvic area. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get screened for prostate cancer as soon as possible. Other signs may include an enlarged prostate or an abnormal increase in the size of the prostate gland. These conditions can cause problems with bladder and urethra function, so it is important to get a PSA screening test done if you want to rule out any prostate problems. Highlighting that one of the most common early signs of prostate cancer is a weak urine flow, he said, This can be accompanied by frequent urination and pain when urinating. Other symptoms to look out for include changes in bladder control, blood in the urine or semen, and pain in the lower back or hips.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to get them checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Prostate cancer is a serious condition and early detection is critical for successful treatment. Talking about the signs that prostate cancer may be getting worse, he insisted to watch out for, Changes in urinary habits, abnormal bowel movements, unexplained weight loss, and erectile dysfunction. Other signs that prostate cancer may be getting worse are experiences of bone pain and ejaculation dysfunction. In advanced cases of prostate cancer, the cancer may spread beyond the prostate gland to other parts of the body including bones and lymph nodes. Treatment options for advanced cases can include surgery, radiation therapy or hormone therapy with or without radiation. He added, Signs of prostate cancer getting worse may include bladder or rectum problems, a decrease in sex hormones and erectile dysfunction. This can cause a man to have difficulty keeping an erection. In extreme cases, the cancer can spread to bones or distant lymph nodes, which may decrease libido and lead to other more serious sexual health issues.
