Spotting The Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
About 175,000 men are expected to develop prostate cancer this year, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society, and about 32,000 men are expected to die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer-related death in American men, following lung cancer. Spread out over a lifetime, about one out of every nine men will have prostate cancer, and one out of every 41 men will die of the disease.
Those are some sobering statistics. But as serious as prostate cancer can be, its also highly curable as long as its caught and treated early, before the cancer has a chance to spread. The American Cancer Society estimates the five-year survival rate for men with localized cancer that is, cancer thats confined to the prostate at nearly 100% when treatment starts right away even if the cancer has spread to the local region, including the lymph nodes and neighboring areas, the five-year survival rate is still nearly 100%. However, if the cancer goes undetected and spreads to other organs or more distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to about 30%. Bottom line: Early detection saves lives. And part of detecting prostate cancer in its earliest stages is knowing what symptoms to look for so you can be evaluated as quickly as possible.
Screening And Selection Of Studies
The final list of search findings will be independently screened by two reviewers . The titles and abstracts of the selected studies will initially be screened for inclusion and exclusion in the review. Studies that are selected after the screening of the titles and abstract will undergo full-text reading by the same independent reviewers. The selection for data extraction will be done by a careful comparison of papers that successfully passed the screening stage to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Search findings that present disagreements between the independent reviewers , during the screening and selection stages, will be resolved through discussions with the third reviewer . Kappa coefficient of 0.6 or more would be used to establish an agreement between the two independent reviewers during the screening and selection phase . Reference management will be done by EW.
What Are The 5 Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. BautistaUpdated on: December 11, 2019
Like other cancers, prostate cancer begins when a bodys cells grow out of control and spread to other areas. Its the second most common cancer1 in American men, behind skin cancer, with 1 in 9 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Although prostate problems mainly happen to men as they have a prostate, women can get prostate cancer as well it is a rare risk, but it can happen.
Whether you are a man or woman, its important to understand the warning signs of prostate cancer so that it can be caught early. Many patients wonder what are the 5 warning signs of prostate cancer?. Well, most early prostate cancers dont show symptoms and are found through blood tests or digital rectal exams .
Usually, when prostate cancer shows signs, its often diagnosed at a later stage and conventional or holistic treatment for prostate cancer would be needed. However, well take a closer look at the warning signs in this article, but as an overview, these symptoms typically involve the urinary system .
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Prognosis For Prostate Cancer
It is not possible for a doctor to predict the exact course of a disease, as it will depend on each person’s individual circumstances. However, your doctor may give you a prognosis, the likely outcome of the disease, based on the type of prostate cancer you have, the test results, the rate of tumour growth, as well as your age, fitness and medical history.
Prostate cancer often grows slowly and even more aggressive types tend to grow more slowly than other types of cancer. If diagnosed early, prostate cancer has one of the highest five year survival rates.
What Should You Do If You Have The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
If you are presenting one or more of the warning signs of prostate cancer, then it would be wise to promptly consult with a qualified physician. Your symptoms may indicate another, less serious condition and even if you do receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is much easier to treat this disease when detected early on.
To learn more, contact our team of medical professionals at Care New England today.
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Everything You Should Know But Wouldnt Ask
Men and their families should not be embarrassed if they do not know what the prostate is, where it is located, or what it does. I cannot remember my high school biology teacher, Brother Patrickor anyone elseever discussing the prostate and its function, so I wasnt too astounded when I learned that in a poll conducted by the PCF a few years ago 60 percent of women responded by saying they knew they had a prostate but couldnt identify its location. Ding! Wrong answer.
The prostate is an important part of the male reproductive and sexual anatomy. The small gland, about the size and the shape of a walnut, is tucked deep inside the lower extremities beneath the bladder, above the testicles, and in front of the rectumwhere it is clearly out of site and out of mind. Its role in life is to create protective seminal fluids that mix with sperm cells and help them along their way. Its elegantly small, simple, and unobtrusiveuntil something goes wrong.
What Else You Can Do For Your Loved One
Besides providing relief throughout the cancer end-of-life stages, a family caregiver can provide both emotional and practical support at the end of life. This usually involves speaking to the patient about their financial plan, but should also include things like speaking to the patient about how they would like to spend their final days. Perhaps there is something they wish they could have done or seen. And perhaps there is some way you can help them make this dream a reality. You can also help them with planning a funeral, as well as speak to them about when they feel it is time to begin hospice care.
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Cancer Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
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In an effort to stay safe from coronavirus, many of us have put off the annual screenings and check-ups where cancers are often caught. That’s understandable. Still, early detection is one of the best weapons against the disease.
Screenings can detect a cancer before symptoms appear. You too can pick up on early warning signs by paying close attention to changes in your body. If you notice something new or different that lasts several weeks and several weeks is key reach out to your health care provider. Not every symptom that could be cancer is cancer. But here are 17 symptoms that may warrant a call to your doctor:
Care During The Final Hours Of Life
The recognition of impending death is also an opportunity to encourage family members to notify individuals close to the patient who may want an opportunity to say goodbye. In the final hours of life, care should be directed toward the patient and the patients loved ones. In addition to continuing a careful and thoughtful approach to any symptoms a patient is experiencing , preparing family and friends for a patients death is critical. Preparations include the following:
- Acknowledging the symptoms that are likely to occur.
- Articulating a plan to respond to the symptoms.
- Eliciting fears or concerns of family members.
- Assuring that respectfully allowing life to end is appropriate at this point in the patients life.
Encouraging family members who desire to do something to participate in the care of the patient may be helpful. In the final days to hours of life, patients often have limited, transitory moments of lucidity. Family members should be prepared for this and educated that this is a natural aspect of the dying process and not necessarily a result of medications being administered for symptoms or a sign that the patient is doing better than predicted. Despite their limited ability to interact, patients may be aware of the presence of others thus, loved ones can be encouraged to speak to the patient as if he or she can hear them.
References
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What Increases Your Risk
Some things can increase your chances of getting prostate cancer. These risk factors include:
- Age.
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Getting older is the main risk factor for prostate cancer. Most cases occur after age 65.
- Family history.
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Your chances of getting the disease are higher if someone in your family has had it. Your risk also depends on the age at which your relative was diagnosed.
- Race.
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Prostate cancer is more common among African-American people than people of other races.
Why Do Men Develop Prostate Cancer
While the causes of prostate cancer remain somewhat elusive to scientists, there are risk factors, and certainly, researchers have determined how it develops in the body, if not the triggers. It occurs when modifications in the DNA cells in the prostate gland cause mutations, creating abnormal cells, which may begin to grow rapidly.
In some cases, the modified cells block tumor suppressor genes, which would help prevent damage and overgrowth of the cells. Other causes of prostate cancer may be an overproduction of oncogenes, which are responsible for cell growth and division 2).
Several possible inherited gene mutations can trigger these changes in your DNA. Among other risk factors, there is some evidence that poor lifestyle habits may be causes of prostate cancer and increase your chances of stimulating these DNA changes.
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Quantitative And Qualitative Data Synthesis
The synthesis of quantitative data will be done through a narrative synthesis . This is because the review has no interventional arm and is aimed at investigating the awareness of women about prostate cancer. Hence, a narrative synthesis would be performed on findings that would be extracted from included studies. It is imperative to note that random or fixed effects would not be employed in data synthesis. Also, subgroup or meta-regression analysis would not be performed.
The findings from the pool of qualitative data will undergo meta-synthesis through findings assembly and categorization based on shared meanings . These categorized findings will undergo further analysis in an attempt to generate a wealth of evidence that will be easy to comprehend and will also be a true reflection of the awareness of women on prostate cancer concerning the underpinned review objectives .
In the event of the inability to perform a textual pooling, a narrative will be generated . The synthesis by narrative will be performed according to the following approach the findings obtained from the selected studies will undergo preliminary synthesis, the compiled data will be explored for linkages and the synthesizing process will be assessed for robustness .
How Do I Prepare As My Cancer Becomes Advanced
If there are signs you are dying of prostate cancer, you may be wondering what to expect as the disease advances and how to prepare yourself and your loved ones. Some people find that having as much information as possible about their condition and prognosis is helpful psychologically. Others may choose to know less to decrease anxiety.
In terms of symptoms, the pain medication should help manage your discomfort. At the very end of your illness, some of the signs you are dying of prostate cancer may include confusion, changes in breathing, loss of appetite, drowsiness, and changes in skin temperate or color .
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Changes You Shouldnt Ignore
Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms but as the disease progresses, you may experience certain warning signs. Knowing the signs of prostate cancer will help you keep an eye out for any concerning changes to your health.
Keep in mind, though, these symptoms dont indicate trouble with your prostate, Dr. Weight says. In fact, almost all of them come standard with aging. But if you experience several symptoms or have other concerns, it may be a good idea to visit a urologist.
Supportive And Palliative Care For Adults With Cancer
The guidance on supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer was published by NICE in March 2004. It placed importance on the holistic approach to managing patients, their carers and relatives following a diagnosis of cancer. In particular, the multidisciplinary team was recognized as key in the process of providing continuity of total care. The importance of working as a multidisciplinary team cannot be stressed enough. To believe that the suffering experienced by patients with a terminal diagnosis can be solely managed by one professional body is foolish. Within the context of the Palliative Care Team, members of the MDT should include those who can deal with physical, spiritual, psychological and social needs. Rehabilitative and nutritional needs should also be recognized and addressed along with the provision of access to complementary therapies.
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What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have prostate cancer, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- Why did I get prostate cancer?
- What is my Gleason score? What is my Grade Group? What do these numbers mean for me?
- Has the cancer spread outside of the prostate gland?
- What is the best treatment for the stage of prostate cancer I have?
- If I choose active surveillance, what can I expect? What signs of cancer should I look out for?
- What are the treatment risks and side effects?
- Is my family at risk for developing prostate cancer? If so, should we get genetic tests?
- Am I at risk for other types of cancer?
- What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Prostate cancer is a common cancer that affects males. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and remain in the prostate gland. For a small number, the disease can be aggressive and spread quickly to other parts of the body. Men with slow-growing prostate cancers may choose active surveillance. With this approach, you can postpone, and sometimes completely forego, treatments. Your healthcare provider can discuss the best treatment option for you based on your Gleason score and Group Grade.
Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Because prostate cancer tends to not show symptoms in its early stages, risk factors are another useful tool to identify candidates for screening. The Mayo Clinic notes that risk certainly increases as you grow older, and obese men may be more likely to have prostate cancer that is aggressive or difficult to treat.
For unknown reasons, black men are also at a greater risk of prostate cancer than men of other races. Not only are they more likely to get prostate cancer, but the risk of prostate cancer being aggressive or advanced is also higher.
Finally, your family history or genetics can also help determine your prostate cancer risk. For example, men with close relatives who had prostate cancer are more likely to get it. Also, a family history of breast cancer or the presence of the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 within the family also raises the likelihood of a man developing prostate cancer.
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Cancer Symptoms Men Shouldnt Ignore
Knowing what symptoms to look for can help your doctor find cancer earlywhen its most treatable.
Nagging back pain. Indigestion. Frequent urination. You may assume these are minor health issues that dont need a doctor visit. But think again.
Cancer symptoms are often vague. In fact, prostate cancerthe most common cancer in menhas some of the least obvious symptoms.
Men shouldnt ignore their health, says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Andersons Cancer Prevention Center. Its vital to stay informed, pay attention to changes in your body and report unusual symptoms to your doctor right away.
Knowing what symptoms to look for can help your doctor find cancer early when its most treatable.
Bevers shares some of the most common cancer symptoms in men.
Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer / Shepard Medical
Of course, your specialist is the main person whose advice you should follow but it doesnt do anyone harm. Part of what makes colon cancer so deadly is that it often goes relatively unnoticed because of a lack of early symptoms. Roughly 21,000 women a year are diagnosed with ovarian ca. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patients chance of survival is.
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