Essay on Prostate Cancer

Submitted By embe3949
Words: 457
Pages: 2

Prostate cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the prostate gland of, usually older, men. This cancer effects hundreds of thousands of men each year. Prostate growth can be either benign or malignant. Benign growths, also called BPH, are not cancerous and are rarely a threat to life. Malignant tumors, however, can be deadly. There are four stages of prostate cancer. The first stage is rarely found unless surgery is performed for some other reason, such as on BPH. At this stage, the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. During the second stage, the cancer can be found by sonogram, but it still does not extend beyond the prostate. The third stage is triggered when the cancer spreads beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles, but not quite as far as the lymph nodes. During stage four the cancer may have spread to nearly any other part of the body.
There are several treatments for prostate cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Different treatments have varying effects on individuals, and a combination of treatments may be necessary. Surgery to remove all or part of the prostate has proven to be most effective during the first two stages. Radiation therapy is possible during any stage of the cancer, and has more potential side effects than surgery. Hormone therapy can be used in conjunction with radiation therapy. It is also used to treat prostate cancer that has returned after treatment. Hormone treatment blocks the male body from producing hormones, namely testosterone. Hormone therapy is generally used when the cancer has moved to other parts of the body besides the prostate gland. Chemotherapy is used typically as a last resort when the cancer has spread and no longer responds to