#4 Most Common Cancer Hits Men Only

Finance

Image result for hot day

As per a previous post, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with around 1-3 million new cases diagnosed every year. This form of skin cancer is not gender or age specific, however, the effects of the sun and ultra-violet rays to build up over the years, resulting in many cases developing later in life. Non-melanoma skin cancer, although is the most common form of cancer, is also one of the most curable forms of cancer as there are only about 2,000 deaths a year.

Number 2 on the most common form of cancer is lung cancer with around 220,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Like non-melanoma skin cancer, lung cancer is not gender or age specific, but is largely associated with smoking tobacco products, but not always. Caught early enough, lung cancer is curable, but most cases are not caught soon enough, resulting in around 155,000 deaths a year.

Number 3 on the most common form of cancer in the United States is breast cancer with 192,000 to as many as 250,000 new cases diagnosed each year. One would think this is a cancer that is specific to women only, but about 2,500 new cases are diagnosed in men each year. If caught early enough, most breast cancers are curable, however, there are about 40,600 deaths a year attributed to breast cancer, nearly 500 of those deaths are men.

Number 4 on the list of the common forms of cancer is gender specific. It’s prostate cancer which accounts for over 160,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Approximately 26,700 men will die this year from prostate cancer, which is why it’s important for men and their wives or girlfriends to know as much as they can about it.

The reason prostate cancer is specific to men only is that it starts in the prostate gland which women do not have. The prostate gland is gland about the size a walnut. It is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. The urethra runs through the prostate and out through the penis. The primary function of the prostate gland is to produce semen to help carry sperm from the testicles during sex.

In many men, the prostate can become enlarged. When it does, it can restrict and even block the flow of urine which can be quite painful. In many cases, this is nothing more than an inflammation known as prostatitis. Sometimes, antibiotics help to reduce the inflammation and return the flow of urine, but in more severe case, it may be necessary to open the flow of urine via surgical procedures.

Believe it or not, the vast majority of men over the age of 50 will have an enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH. Like prostatitis, it is often treated with medications or surgery.

The other abnormal condition of the prostate is prostate cancer. It’s recommended that men 50-years-old or older be regularly tested for prostate cancer. There are four general tests used to detect prostate cancer:

  • Digital rectal examination (DRE): A doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate. A DRE can sometimes detect an enlarged prostate, lumps or nodules of prostate cancer, or tenderness from prostatitis.
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): The prostate makes a protein called PSA, which can be measured by a blood test. If PSA is high, prostate cancer is more likely, but an enlarged prostate can also cause a high PSA.
  • Prostate ultrasound (transrectal ultrasound): An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum, bringing it close to the prostate. Ultrasound is often done with a biopsy to test for prostate cancer.
  • Prostate biopsy: A needle is inserted into the prostate to take tissue out to check for prostate cancer. This is usually done through the rectum.

There are 2 primary types of prostate cancer. Adenocarcinoma is prostate cancer that developed in the gland cells. About 99% of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas. The other 1% is called sarcoma and develops in the gland tissues, but not the gland cells.

If detected, there are 6 general methods of dealing with the prostate cancer:

  • Active Surveillance: With early detection and knowing that prostate cancer is generally very slow growing, some doctors opt to use this method to watch the cancer before taking any action to treat it. In about 90% of the cases of prostate cancer, the disease stays localized in the prostate gland and demonstrates no symptoms. It can continue this way for years before other action become necessary.
  • Surgery: This is done when doctors feel it is necessary to remove part or all of the prostate gland, a procedure known as a prostatectomy. Doctors generally look at the type, size, location, grade and stage of the tumor as well as the patients age physical health and other medical factors, before determining if a prostatectomy is the best option.
  • Chemotherapy: This is done with giving the patient anti-cancer drugs to stop or slow the growth of the cancer cells. It often has unpleasant side-effects including nausea, vomiting, loss of hair and sore in the mouth. Some of the side-effects can be treated with other medications.
  • Radiation Therapy: Generally, the type of radiation treatment used is one that pinpoints on the cancer cells only so as not to damage surrounding healthy tissue. Radiation treatment can last for so many days and weeks, but the effects of the radiation may take months to complete its effect on the cancer cells. Regular monitoring is often necessary.
  • Immunotherapy: This is a newer form of treatment that often uses Provenge, an FDA approved treatment for prostate cancer. The drug empowers the patient’s own immune system to target and fight the cancer cells. Immune cells are extracted from the patient and then ‘trained’ to detect and target prostate cancer cells by using Provenge. Then the immune cells and Provenge are injected back into the patient to fight the prostate cells.
  • Hormone Therapy: This form of treatment is often used with other forms such as radiation. It uses specific drugs to block the cancer cells of the male hormones they need to survive. Note that this therapy does reduce the level of testosterone in the patient.

Prostate cancer is very common in men, especially men over 50, but if caught early enough, is one of the most survivable forms cancer, which is why it is so important to be tested on a regular basis. If you are a man 50-years and older, then if nothing else, just ask your doctor to test your blood for PSA levels.

 

 

cancer Cancer Treatments Common Types of Cancer

Related Posts