Prostate Cancer Specialist

What is prostate cancer?

Your prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland situated between your penis and bladder. It produces the fluid that protects sperm. The prostate also helps you ejaculate by contracting to push fluid through your urethra.

Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells multiply rapidly in the gland. Every year, around 174,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United States. The disease contributes to about 31,000 deaths annually.

What are the signs of prostate cancer?

In many cases, prostate cancer doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. A tumor on your prostate doesn’t push against anything that could cause pain or make you feel like you should see a doctor. 

However, your prostate surrounds your urethra, and as your tumor grows, you will notice symptoms like:

• Increased frequency of urination
• Trouble starting or holding in urine
• Weak urine flow
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased amount of ejaculate
• Blood in your urine
• Pain in your lower back, hips, and pelvis

These symptoms don’t necessarily indicate prostate cancer. Other conditions that cause inflammation in the prostate like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis can cause similar symptoms.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Having routine prostate cancer screenings is critical to detecting the disease in its early stages. Most men should start having prostate cancer screenings, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital prostate exams at age 50.

If you have a personal or family history of prostate cancer, you should begin your screenings earlier. Your doctor provides customized recommendations on when you should start to have the tests.

If your screening is positive, meaning that you might have prostate cancer, your doctor orders additional testing like transrectal ultrasounds and biopsies to diagnose the cause of the abnormal results.

How is prostate cancer treated?

The type of treatment of prostate cancer depends on the severity of your disease. Your oncologist at Wellness Oncology & Hematology provides customized treatment to destroy your cancer and restore your health. 

Your oncologist could recommend androgen-deprivation therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, or surgical removal of your prostate and lymph nodes.

If you’re concerned about prostate cancer, call Wellness Oncology & Hematology or make an appointment online today.