📝 Prostate Cancer – Early Signs, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate — a small, walnut-shaped gland below the bladder that helps produce seminal fluid. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and may stay confined to the prostate for years, while a smaller number are aggressive and can spread to bones, lymph nodes, or other organs. Early detection greatly improves treatment success and long-term outlook.
🔍 What Is Prostate Cancer? – Video Guides
📺 “What is PROSTATE CANCER? Doctor explains SIGNS & Symptoms”
A clear patient‑friendly explanation of prostate cancer: what it is, how it develops, common signs and early symptoms and when to see a doctor.
📺 “Mayo Clinic Explains Prostate Cancer”
A specialist‑led overview by Mayo Clinic explaining prostate cancer: how the prostate gland works, how cancer affects it, and basic treatment paths.
📺 “Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment | Stanford”
A medical‑lecture style video from Stanford covering prostate cancer in depth: what it is, how it is diagnosed and the options available for treatment.
Symptoms to watch for
Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they commonly relate to the urinary and reproductive systems:
- Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia).
- Difficulty starting or maintaining urine flow, or a weak stream.
- Pain, burning, or discomfort while urinating.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
- Problems with erection (erectile dysfunction) or reduced sexual performance.
- Persistent pain or stiffness in the hips, pelvis, or lower back (mayindicate spread to bone).
🔎 Prostate Cancer – Symptoms to Watch For
📺 What are Symptoms of Prostate Cancer? | Doctor explains
This video explains common warning signs of prostate cancer such as difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow, and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. 1
📺 The Symptoms You NEED To Know | Prostate Cancer
A focused video on how prostate cancer may show up with urinary issues, blood in urine or semen, and sometimes back/pelvic pain when it’s advanced. 2
📺 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer
This video highlights lesser-known signs like erectile dysfunction, blood in semen, and bone pain in advanced disease. 3
Causes & risk factors
The exact trigger for prostate cancer is unclear, but several factors increase risk:
- Age: Risk rises sharply after age 50; most cases occur in older men.
- Family history: Having a father, brother, or close relative with prostate cancer raises your risk two- to three-fold. Genetic changes — such as BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations — also increase risk.
- Ethnicity: Men of African ancestry have higher incidence and, in some settings, higher mortality.
- Diet & lifestyle: High intake of fatty foods, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle are linked with higher risk.
- Hormones: Androgens (male hormones such as testosterone) influence prostate cell growth and can affect cancer behaviour.
⚠️ Causes & Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer – Video Guides
📺 “Prostate Cancer Risk Factors & Causes Explained”
Dr. John explains key risk factors for prostate cancer including age, family history, ethnicity, diet, and lifestyle, and how they contribute to disease risk.
📺 “Prostate Cancer Causes, Risks & Prevention Tips”
This video breaks down lifestyle and environmental factors, how genetics impact prostate cancer risk, and tips to reduce your risk naturally.
📺 “Understanding Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors”
Learn about how age, race, diet, and family history affect prostate cancer risk, plus emerging research on environmental and hormonal influences.
How prostate cancer is diagnosed
Doctors combine tests to make an accurate diagnosis:
1. PSA blood test
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures a protein made by prostate cells. Raised PSA can suggest cancer but also rises with infection or benign enlargement; it is a screening and monitoring tool, not a definitive test.
2. Digital rectal examination (DRE)
During a DRE the clinician feels the prostate through the rectal wall to check for lumps, hard areas, or irregularities.
3. Imaging tests
MRI, CT scans, and transrectal ultrasound can visualize the prostate and surrounding tissues to help guide biopsies and staging.
4. Biopsy
To confirm cancer, a small tissue sample is taken from the prostate and examined microscopically. Modern biopsies may be MRI-guided for greater accuracy.
🩺 How Prostate Cancer is Diagnosed – Video Guides
📺 “Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: PSA Test & Biopsy Explained”
This video explains the key diagnostic tools for prostate cancer, including the PSA blood test, digital rectal exam, and biopsy procedures.
📺 “How Doctors Detect Prostate Cancer Early”
Learn about early detection techniques, imaging methods like MRI, and the importance of regular screenings in catching prostate cancer early.
📺 “Prostate Cancer: Diagnostic Tests & What to Expect”
A detailed overview of diagnostic tests, including lab tests, imaging scans, and biopsy, along with tips on what patients can expect during the process.
Treatment options — how doctors decide
Treatment depends on cancer stage, grade (how aggressive it looks under the microscope), patient age, general health, and personal preferences. Typical options include:
Active surveillance (watchful waiting)
Low-risk cancers that are slow-growing may be safely monitored with regular PSA checks, DREs, imaging, and occasional biopsies — avoiding or delaying treatment side effects.
Surgery (radical prostatectomy)
Removal of the prostate is an option for localised disease. Techniques include open surgery, laparoscopy, and robot-assisted surgery. Possible side effects: urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
Radiation therapy
External beam radiation or brachytherapy (radioactive seeds placed into the prostate) can treat localised or locally advanced disease. Radiation may be combined with hormone therapy in certain situations.
Hormone (androgen-deprivation) therapy
Lowering or blocking testosterone slows the growth of prostate cancer cells and is used for advanced or recurrent disease.
Chemotherapy
Used when cancer has spread beyond the prostate or when hormone therapy stops working.
Targeted & immunotherapy
Newer approaches — including targeted agents and immunotherapies — are available for certain advanced cancers and in clinical trials. Discuss options with your oncology team.
💊 Prostate Cancer Treatment Options – How Doctors Decide
📺 “Prostate Cancer Treatment Options Explained”
This video explains the main treatment options for prostate cancer, including surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and active surveillance, and how doctors decide based on stage and patient health.
📺 “How Prostate Cancer Treatment Decisions Are Made”
A medical expert explains how doctors choose the best treatment based on cancer stage, patient age, health status, and personal preferences.
📺 “Prostate Cancer: Surgery, Radiation, and Active Surveillance”
This video compares surgery, radiation therapy, and active surveillance, highlighting benefits, side effects, and how doctors personalize treatment plans.
How to reduce your risk
No strategy guarantees prevention, but evidence supports lifestyle measures that can lower overall cancer risk and improve health:
- Eat more plant foods — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts; include lycopene-rich foods such as tomatoes and watermelon.
- Limit red and processed meat and reduce dietary saturated fat.
- Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly (aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days).
- Don't smoke; limit alcohol consumption.
- Know your family history — men with close relatives who had prostate or related cancers may need earlier screening and genetic counselling.
- Discuss screening timing with your doctor: men with family risk may start earlier (around 40–45 years), while average-risk screening commonly begins at 50; guidelines vary by country and organisation.
🛡️ How to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer – Video Guides
📺 “Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips”
Learn evidence-based lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, including diet, exercise, and regular check-ups.
📺 “Reducing Risk of Prostate Cancer | Doctor Advice”
A doctor explains how diet, exercise, and regular screenings help in lowering prostate cancer risk and early detection strategies.
📺 “Lifestyle Changes to Lower Prostate Cancer Risk”
This video highlights practical steps men can take to reduce prostate cancer risk, including quitting smoking, maintaining healthy weight, and proper nutrition.
Living well with prostate cancer
A diagnosis affects more than the body — it impacts emotions, relationships, and daily life. Ways to stay resilient:
- Seek counselling or join support groups to manage anxiety and stress.
- Follow a balanced diet and stay physically active to reduce fatigue and improve recovery.
- Talk with partners and family — emotional support and shared decision-making help recovery.
- Ask your care team about pelvic floor exercises and sexual health clinics to manage side effects such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the earliest sign of prostate cancer?
- Often there is none. Urinary changes (slow stream, nocturia) may occur, but many early cancers are found through PSA testing or during exams.
- Is prostate cancer curable?
- Yes — especially when found early and still confined to the prostate. Surgery or radiation can be curative for many men.
- When should men start testing?
- Men with a family history or higher risk may consider starting discussions about screening at age 40–45; average-risk men typically start at 50. Check national guidelines and talk with your doctor.
- Can diet make a difference?
- Healthy, plant-rich diets and weight control are associated with lower risk and better outcomes, though they don’t eliminate risk entirely. Including lycopene-rich foods is commonly recommended.
- How fast does prostate cancer spread?
- Most prostate cancers grow slowly over many years; a minority are aggressive and spread more quickly to bone and other organs. Staging and grading at diagnosis determine prognosis.
Trusted external resources
Use these reputable organizations for up-to-date guidance and patient resources:
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Cancer resources.
- IARC / GLOBOCAN Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet (global stats).
- American Cancer Society – Prostate cancer overview & statistics.
- NHS — Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) — Screening information.
- Mayo Clinic — Symptoms, causes, treatments.
- Cancer Research UK — facts, risk and support.
- Urology Care Foundation — patient guides.
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