What is prostate microcarcinoma

Prostate cancer

Prostate carcinoma is a malignant tumor that begins to develop in the prostate.

This gland is located in men in the pelvis (in women it is absent), slightly below the bladder to the anterior part of the rectum, while surrounding the urethra.

How does such a cancer behave, what options for treating the disease can there be, and what will happen if there is no timely therapy? Let's try to figure out Prostate carcinoma what it is.

Features of the disease

Prostate carcinoma what is it? The main and most important distinguishing feature of this type of oncology is that the tumor quickly spreads beyond its capsule, affecting the nerve fibers, affecting the lymph nodes, penetrating into the nerve plexuses and blood vessels.

After the metastases are in the structure of the bones, they are distinguished by their rapid growth, the formation of secondary foci is observed, as a result of which the patient has spontaneous bone fractures and serious deformations. In this case, the bone marrow is replaced by oncology, as a result of which the patient notices a sharp deterioration in his general state of health.

The sooner prostate carcinoma is detected, the sooner effective treatment is started, the greater the chances of a complete cure. Histological examination plays an important role.

An important role is played not only by determining whether a patient has oncology in this organ, but also by diagnosing the type of carcinoma itself.

Clinical picture

Prostate carcinoma in most cases is accompanied by the presence of symptoms such as:

• bleeding;
• erectile dysfunction that is starting to progress;
• the presence of blood in the semen;
• leakage, urinary incontinence;
• pain in the pelvic area;
• during urination, there is a feeling of discomfort and burning;
• hematuria.

If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, then patients in the later stages have a strong inflammatory process in the region of the lymphatic regional vessels.

As a result of this phenomenon, there is a strong swelling in the lower extremities. The extensive growth of cancer tissue in bone structures, including the spine, causes the development of paralysis, local weakness resulting from severe compression of the spinal cord.

For this reason, it is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice the first symptoms. Do not delay the treatment of cancer in case of spread of metastases throughout the body, it will be impossible to cope with oncology.

In the last stages of carcinoma, treatment is not able to bring effective results, resulting in death.

Oncology stages

As you can see, adenocarcinoma is a very serious disease that needs immediate treatment. This type of oncology can develop in several scenarios:

• seed the body with blood;
• spread metastases through the lymph using lymphatic vessels;
• grow in tissue nearby.

Initially, the prostate gland is located in a certain capsule. Such an anatomical structure provides an opportunity to obtain a kind of barrier that allows you to limit the activity of cancer cells for a certain time.

If nothing is done, then the malignant process will spread further, gradually moving to the seminal vesicles, thereby breaking out of the existing capsule.

Depending on the stage at which the carcinoma resides, the doctor selects the most effective treatment regimen for the patient in this case. If the disease was diagnosed at the initial stage, then treatment can be limited only to taking hormonal drugs. In some cases, such therapy is enough to cope with cancer cells and get rid of oncology, while retaining all male functions.

If the disease is at later stages, then in this case it is preferable to choose chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. In especially neglected situations, it is recommended to use combined treatment methods. The same applies to palliative measures.

The oncologist should choose the methods of treatment and conduct it based on the tests. Self-medication can be hazardous to health. You can start a disease, as a result, traditional medicine will be useless.

Methods of treatment

Depending on a number of factors, the type of treatment provided may depend.In this case, it is necessary to take into account such features: assessment of possible risks, the severity of the oncological process, the form of cancer, the age of the patient, as well as the expected life expectancy. If we talk about the forms of the disease, then the most common of them is carcinoma of the gland.

There are three ways to treat this form of cancer:

• Radical radical therapy of the external kidney of the prostate;
• surgical intervention, which consists in the complete removal of the pelvic lymph nodes and prostate (radical prostatectomy);
• Radiation treatment consists of injecting a (permanent or temporary) radioactive isotope into the prostate gland (brachytherapy).

In the event that the disease begins to progress, it is recommended to use hormonal dependence on breast cancer, treatment with hormonal drugs is used, the action of which is aimed at reducing the effects of androgens on the prostate gland.

There are other methods of therapy, the principle of which is the surgical removal of the testicles or the administration of medications that inhibit the production of testosterone in the testicles.

Risk factors

If we talk about the risk factors for this type of oncology, they include, first of all, race, age characteristics and a family history. The average age among men who are exposed to this type of disease is 70 years old.

After the age of 40, there is a chance of developing prostate cancer in the stronger sex. For this reason, it is necessary to start monitoring your own health during this period of time.

According to world statistics, most often oncological processes in the prostate gland are observed in men of the Negroid race. In second place after them are Caucasians, the genetic factor remains predominant.

If earlier prostate cancer was detected in older family members, then there is a high probability of its manifestation in men of the next generation.

Preventive measures

The prognosis can be extremely negative if you have not taken preventive measures aimed at prostate carcinoma.

Regular physical activity can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing oncology in this organ, in addition, it is recommended to stop abusing alcohol, stop smoking and increase the level of physical activity.

If you are overweight, it is recommended to get rid of it. It is obesity that can be a factor in the development of a cancerous process in the prostate gland.

It is recommended to pay special attention to diet. Every day you need to consume fruits and vegetables, namely soy, grapes, tomatoes, broccoli and cabbage. In addition, it is recommended to limit the consumption of foods that contain a large amount of animal fats and calcium.

Scientists managed to note the fact that the disease is distributed unevenly in the world. For example, in Japan, the percentage of people with this type of cancer is very low. It is generally accepted that the reason for this phenomenon lies in the high consumption of vegetable fats, the same soy.

Soy in its composition contains a large amount of phytoestrogens, which in turn are very similar to female sex hormones. Such substances can reduce the amount of testosterone in the blood, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing oncology in the prostate area. Carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol play an important role in cancer prevention, as they mostly contain products of plant origin.

It is possible to increase the likelihood of cancer absence after fifty years with regular intake of vitamin E. Scientists have noticed the fact that the use of finasteride can reduce the likelihood of developing prostate carcinoma by as much as 30%.

Researchers around the world who study this disease note that activity and physical activity also reduce the likelihood of developing an oncological process in this organ.

You should not give up and give up if you have been given such a diagnosis. There are people for whom treatment helps to cope with such a terrible disease as carcinoma. The main thing in this case is not to hesitate, but immediately seek the help of doctors.

Prostate cancer

Prostate carcinoma sounds like a terrible sentence for a man. The diagnosis is disappointing, but treatable and diagnosable, helping to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.

What is a neoplasm?

Prostate carcinoma - what is it? This is a malignant neoplasm that develops and grows in the tissues of the prostate gland, an important organ of the male reproductive system, directly affects the process of ejaculation by controlling urination.

Prostate carcinoma differs from other forms of malignant neoplasms in its slow course - cancer can develop over 10-15 days and at the initial stages can metastasize, affecting other organs and systems. Most often affects the bones and lymph nodes, liver and lungs.

Reasons for the development of pathology.

As doctors note, prostate carcinoma develops for reasons that have not yet been established. However, doctors note the fact that such pathologies and conditions can provoke pathology:

• prostatitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the gland, disrupts normal blood flow and is chronic.
• prostate adenoma, when a benign neoplasm can develop into a malignant one if left untreated.
• hormonal imbalance in the body and bacterial damage to the reproductive system, in particular, the prostate.
• if the work or field of activity is related to the contact of substances and compounds containing cadmium.
• heredity is another predisposing factor in the development of prostate cancer.
• an unbalanced diet with a low content of meat, as well as poor ecology and advanced age.

As medical statistics show, most often the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma is made to men after 50 years.

Symptoms of pathology

The most characteristic and first symptom that indicates the development of such a pathology as prostate carcinoma is problems with going to the toilet and urination, too frequent urges. Prostate carcinoma develops slowly, and therefore, at the first manifestations of these symptoms, it is worth visiting a urologist.

If the course of the disease is running, this can provoke the manifestation of such symptoms:

• Hematuria and burning in the urethra when urinating.
• pain localized in the lower abdomen and urinary incontinence.
• blood in semen and erectile dysfunction.
• Bleeding accompanied by pain from the anus.

With regard to medical prognosis - in the initial stages of the course of the pathology, it is treatable, but in the advanced phase of its course, the prognosis is disappointing. With an increase in the lymph nodes, there is swelling of the legs, and if the pelvic bones are affected by metastases, muscle weakness develops and possible paralysis of the lower body due to compression of the spinal cord.

Diagnosis of pathology

Prostate carcinoma and its diagnosis consists of the following methods:

With regard to the examination of the patient, this is, first of all, a rectal examination, when at this stage the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis of the presence or absence of a tumor, the size of which is more than 1-2 cm. In order to confirm or refute the preliminary diagnosis - the doctor prescribes tomography and ultrasound, while assessing the degree of aggressiveness of the neoplasm, the practice of conducting a biopsy, sampling and subsequent examination of the biomaterial is used.

Diagnosis using oncological markers makes it possible to identify pathology at the earliest stages of its course, when negative symptoms do not manifest themselves. If the indicators exceed the level of PSA concentration of 2.5-3.5 ng / ml, this indicates a developing disease. MRI and CT, as well as positron emission tomography, help determine the location and size of the pathology, the presence of metastases, but with severe pain, the development of hematuria, the doctor prescribes an additional examination of the ureter and rectum.

At the last stage of the course of the pathology, doctors prescribe an additional diagnosis of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and an x-ray of the lungs. These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify secondary foci of cancer that can affect the bones and liver, lungs and other organs.

Carcinoma treatment

The tactics and methods of the course of treatment are prescribed taking into account the stage of the cancer and damage to internal organs and systems. If a small tumor is diagnosed, up to the 2nd stage of development, doctors prescribe surgery and removal of the neoplasm, the entire prostate or the gland itself with surrounding tissues affected by the lymph nodes.

In addition, in the early stages, doctors can conduct not only a course of chemotherapy, but also radiation, as well as the use of brachytherapy - the introduction of a radioactive drug directly into the affected prostate. Modern methods of treatment include a course of immunotherapy with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, the introduction of antibodies that provoke apoptosis of atypical cells.

Prevention of pathology

Prevention consists of a few simple and elementary rules.

Doctors' recommendations are simple and easy to follow, allowing you to maintain men's health.

Prostate carcinoma and its consequences

Some men, especially over 45 years old, may hear from a doctor a diagnosis that is not understandable and unpleasant for everyone - prostate carcinoma. Many questions arise, people do not know what it is, nor what is the life expectancy for this pathology, nor how to treat it. Let us consider the disease in detail and try to answer these questions in the article.

What is prostate carcinoma

Carcinoma is a type of oncological neoplasm. In everyday life, this pathology is called much more simply - cancer. The disease occurs when the cells of the glandular tissue of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably, thereby disrupting the functioning of this organ and a number of others.

Prostate carcinoma is the most common cancer among men. It has been established that the risk of its detection increases in proportion to age. If in young men this problem is practically not detected, then in pensioners over 70 years old it is very common - every eighth man suffers from symptoms of prostate carcinoma.

Given such statistics, it is recommended that men over 50 years of age undergo an annual examination, including donating blood for a PSA marker.

How long will a person with carcinoma live

It is difficult to say how long a person with cancer will live, this indicator is influenced by too many factors - the susceptibility of the body, the degree of carcinoma, the treatment being carried out, the age of the patient. However, there are five-year survival statistics, which doctors are guided by when creating a prognosis.

The chance to live 5 years from the moment of diagnosis and after radical prostatectomy (complete removal of the organ) is:

• at stages 1 and 2 - 85%;
• for the third stage - 50%;
• the fourth stage has 20%.

To a large extent, survival depends on how quickly treatment is started from the moment the tumor grows. Unfortunately, men are in no hurry to go to the doctor at the first symptoms and are not too fond of annual check-ups, so they turn when the disease goes into the third and even fourth stage. Therefore, the prognosis is unfavorable - with this pathology, metastases develop rapidly and treatment will not be particularly effective.

Why does prostate carcinoma appear

It's hard to say exactly what causes cancer. It is believed that there are certain reasons that can be called provoking, but there are also risk factors. Modern oncologists believe that carcinoma is a complication of various processes occurring in the tissues of the prostate gland.

The most likely causes are:

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• increase in androgens and dihydrotestosterone;
• prostatitis, especially in chronic form;
• benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma).

It can also be caused by certain autoimmune processes, in which the structure of cells at the genome level is disrupted, which leads to their rapid reproduction.

Prostate adenoma and atypical adenosis are considered precancerous conditions.

Risk factors have also been established, which are largely related to the patient's lifestyle and hereditary data. It is known that the development of carcinoma can provoke the predominance of animal fats in the diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, as well as working in a printing house or welding shop. Age is also a risk factor - the older the man, the higher the likelihood of oncology in the prostate.

Signs and symptoms

The specificity of prostate carcinoma is such that in the initial stage of development, the tumor does not manifest itself with specific symptoms. The only chance to detect oncology at the stage of inception is to regularly donate blood for PSA.

As the neoplasm grows and dysfunction of the urethra and prostate, the following symptoms will appear:

In cases of violation of the innervation of the penis by a tumor, the development of erectile dysfunction is possible. It is difficult to restore the functions of the penis in this case.

Some men develop a strong, indefatigable cough. This is possible if metastases have penetrated the lungs. If lymph nodes are affected by metastases, swelling may develop on the legs or in the scrotum. With liver damage, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes will be noticeable. The last symptoms are typical for the third and fourth stages of prostate carcinoma.

If you do not take into account the signs of metastases, oncology does not have specific symptoms. This means that its manifestations can be confused with an exacerbation of chronic prostatitis or BPH. Therefore, it is important for a man to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Carcinoma stages

Some men, having heard such a bad diagnosis, seek to understand what exactly is happening in the body. A small table will help with this.

Stage and degree are not the same thing. The degree is understood as an indicator that reflects changes in the cells of the prostate, and the stage is an indicator of the size of the tumor and the presence of metastases in distant organs.

Diagnosis

The reason for contacting a urologist should be a violation of urination. If a man noted frequent urges for several days, and the drinking regimen was not changed at the same time, we can talk about squeezing the bladder with a benign or malignant neoplasm.

For diagnostic purposes, can be used:

• rectal examination of the prostate with a finger - palpation;
• TRUS of the prostate;
• CT or MRI of the prostate;
• X-ray;
• radioisotope research.

If the doctor found a tumor during palpation, it is possible that we are talking about carcinoma. To clarify the diagnosis, a man can be sent for blood donation for PSA. This is an oncological marker, which is a protein, the amount of which increases in the blood precisely during cancer.

If, according to the results of the methods listed above, the doctor's fears are confirmed, the man is sent for a biopsy. This is the final examination, during which a part of the prostate is taken with a special needle and examined under a microscope. Such an analysis will allow us to say with high accuracy whether there is carcinoma in the prostate.

Prostate carcinoma treatment

The approach to therapy will depend on many factors, including the patient's age, how they feel, the stage of the cancer, and other factors. For example, if a man is over 70 years old and has a heart disease that can interfere with the operation, conservative methods are chosen, and the operation is performed only in case of an immediate threat to life and the absence of the effect of treatment. Let's consider all the methods, starting with the more gentle ones.

Using drugs

Prostate carcinoma, including undifferentiated carcinoma, can be treated with pharmaceuticals. If during the examination it is possible to establish that a man has a hormonal imbalance and there is a relationship with the growth of the tumor, then its further development can be influenced with the help of hormone-containing drugs.

Treatment that lowers androgen levels is more effective in stage 1 and 2 carcinoma. At a later stage of tumor growth, hormones can slow down the pathological process and prolong the life of a man.

The patient may be prescribed:

If the patient is not yet 60 years old, drug therapy can be enhanced by freezing the tumor with the help of point exposure to low temperature. The ice that forms in the carcinoma destroys it, and hormonal drugs prevent re-growth.

Removal of the testicles (castration) can also affect the growth of the tumor, but in modern practice it is extremely rare. Doctors try to protect the patient from the experiences that are inevitable with such a surgical effect.

Use of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be an effective treatment, but it comes with some serious side effects. A man's hair may fall out, his health worsens, his appetite disappears. However, drugs in this group destroy the shell and nucleus of cancer cells, therefore they are able to stop the rapidly growing malignant neoplasm. Also, the active substance is able to reach distant metastases, so chemotherapy is advisable at stages 3 and 4 of carcinoma.

In different situations, to combat oncology, they can prescribe:

The duration of the course of chemotherapy varies. On average, the treatment will take about six months. This approach to the fight against prostate cancer has a rather negative effect on the whole body, so the doctor must carefully weigh and compare the possible risk with the potential effect.

Radiation therapy for carcinoma

Another technique aimed at damaging the DNA of cancer cells and preventing their reproduction. For treatment, a special device is used that spreads certain rays to the localization zone of carcinoma

Each course lasts up to five days, the breaks between them are two days. Irradiation does not cause pain to a man, but it can disrupt the structure of healthy cells, therefore it is prescribed only at 4 stages of the disease. It is considered a potentially dangerous therapy due to the development of a variety of side effects, but it can give a good result.

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A type of radiation is brachytherapy. It has a selective effect: the beam is directed to iodine or iridium crystals, which are first introduced into the prostate gland.Healthy cells are not affected during the session, there are fewer side effects, but the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, otherwise it is impossible to introduce crystals of radioactive substances.

In modern oncology, HIFU therapy can be used - the impact on a malignant tumor with ultrasound of a certain frequency. This method is gaining popularity, but it costs the patient a round sum.

Performing an operation

Surgical intervention for prostate carcinoma is an extreme measure that is advisable if conservative treatment and chemotherapy do not give the desired result. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, during the intervention the patient is removed the tumor along with the prostate or part of it. In especially severe cases, some lymph nodes are also removed. In modern surgery, Da Vinci robotic systems are widely used, which can be used to excise tissues with a high degree of accuracy.

The effectiveness of the operation depends on the stage of the carcinoma. So, if the neoplasm has not left the boundaries of the prostate capsule, the man has a 98% chance of recovery.

Such surgery is associated with the risk of various complications, including the onset of erectile dysfunction and infertility, therefore, such tactics are rarely used in relation to men of reproductive age. The doctor always weighs the possible risks and offers the patient the most optimal approach to the treatment of carcinoma.

Features of carcinoma therapy

If a man has stage 4 oncology, removing the tumor is practically useless. Therefore, treatment is aimed at slowing down the growth of carcinoma, as well as improving the general condition. In fact, a man is trying to prolong life and improve its quality, there is no talk of recovery.

Prostate carcinoma is not treated by folk methods. An exception is the first stages, when various decoctions and infusions can play a supporting role, as well as stage 4 to reduce the intensity of symptoms. There is information about the use of ginger root for these purposes. To prepare the medicine, you need to mix two large roots of the plant with 500 g of honey, preferably buckwheat. The resulting mass should be eaten in a teaspoon in the morning and evening.

The use of any folk methods should be agreed with the doctor. It is necessary to take into account all the nuances, including allergies and the reaction of organs and systems to certain components. Also, phytotherapy is not always compatible with conservative treatment, this should also be taken into account.

Forecast for a man

The timely treatment of carcinoma depends on how long a person lives. If a man constantly undergoes examinations, systematically donates blood for PSA, then there is a chance to start therapy at the first or second stage. In this case, doctors manage to cope with carcinoma, restore urination, remove pain and return the patient to a full-fledged lifestyle.

The third stage is more difficult to treat and is associated with risks for the condition and functions of other organs. A man may be prescribed hormonal treatment or chemotherapy, but there is still a chance to be cured. According to statistics, after competent medical care, a man can live more than 14 years. Given the fact that pathology is more often detected at retirement age, the figure is more than impressive.

The fourth stage of carcinoma is the most dangerous. Even with treatment in the best clinics using modern techniques, it is rare that a man can live more than seven years from the moment a tumor is discovered. Approximately 80% of patients die in the first 5 years.