In Australia, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. About 3,000 of our dads, brothers, husbands, sons and mates will lose their battle every year

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, with an increased risk if you’re over the age of 50 or have a family history.

Prostate cancer doesn’t discriminate, so at any age it’s important to be aware of any unusual changes in your body. In its early states, the disease may not produce significant or obvious symptoms, making diagnosis and early intervention difficult in some cases.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells in the prostate, a small walnut-sized gland found only in men, grow uncontrollably and form a malignant tumour.

It is the most common cancer in Australian men aged 50 and around 9 in 10 males diagnosed with this disease survive five years from diagnosis.

Sadly, about 3000 men die every year from the heartbreaking disease.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Risk factors of prostate cancer include:

• Age: Being over the age of 50 increases your chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer
• Family history: If your father or brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this increases your chance of developing it. If your family has the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene or has a strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, this also increases your risk
• Poor Diet/Obesity: A diet high in fats and low in fresh fruits and vegetables increases your chances of prostate cancer
• Race: Males of African descent are at higher risk.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• Frequent urination
• Urgent and sudden need to urinate
• Difficulty in urinating
• Weaker than normal stream
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in urine or semen
• Erectile dysfunction.

Types of Prostate Cancer

Almost all prostate cancers develop in the prostate gland, however there are some extremely rare types of prostate cancer that also develop in the prostate, including:

• Small cell carcinomas
• Sarcomas
• Neuroendocrine tumours or transitional cell carcinomas.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

There are five main stages of prostate cancer ranging from stage 0 to stage 5 and this is determined based on a number of factors including:

• Size of the tumour
• If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs or tissue around the body
• PSA levels
• Gleason score from the prostate biopsy.

How is Prostate Cancer Detected?

The most common methods used to detect warning signs associated with prostate cancer are the PSA test (prostate-specific antigen test) and the DRE (digital rectal examination).

PSA Test (Blood Test):

Males over the age of 50 should discuss prostate cancer with their doctor and be screened for the disease on an annual basis. This can be done through a simple PSA blood test, which checks for elevated level of prostate specific antigen (a protein produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous tissue in the prostate).

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE):

Men can also receive a digital rectal examination, where the doctor examines the prostate for any irregularities in shape and size. If either of these tests confirm a patient may be at risk of prostate cancer, their doctor will arrange a biopsy. During a prostate biopsy, prostate tissue samples are removed and examined in the laboratory which can result in a cancer diagnosis based on results.

Source: Australian Prostate Cancer