Anasayfa » Debunking Prostate Cancer Myths
Surrounding the prostate gland are numerous small nerves that activate and nourish the blood supply to the prostate. The well being of the prostate and these nerves is absolutely necessary for a man to have a normal and satisfactory sex life. These important nerves are within very small spaces, no more than a few thousandths of an inch thick, and the length of a small erect penis. Whether a man is able to have an erection when he wants to is not controlled by the prostate, but it is integral with nerves and blood supply in the general proximity.
Prostate cancer is a disease that can be explained simply. The prostate is a gland unique to only men. It is also a sex gland. Part of the fluid that makes up semen is produced by the prostate. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. There is only one. It surrounds the opening to the passage that goes from the bladder to the penis, also known as the urethra. It looks quite a bit like a walnut.
The human prostate is an organ located surrounding the neck of the male bladder and the urethra and is involved in the ejaculation of seminal fluid. Prostate cancer is histologically defined as the growth of abnormal cells arising in the prostate tissue. The earliest form of prostate cancer could be identified by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer cases can grossly manifest as discrete nodules or they can be multifocal and spread in one or both prostate lobes. Prostate cancer cases vary in their growth rate, allowing most of the cases to stay indolent for a long time period. Such indolent prostate cancers are not lethal by themselves and are often detected during the autopsy of older males who had died from other medical conditions.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in Europe and the second most frequent male cancer worldwide. Its incidence varies per 100,000 worldwide with around 97 in India, 108 in China, 112 in Japan, 159 in Northern America countries, 167 in the United Kingdom, 246 in France, 267 in Italy, and 350-450 in the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries. Genetic and environmental factors are both important in prostate cancer etiology. Risk factors associated with its increased incidence are age, race, and family history of prostate cancer, whereas a fat-rich diet, excess energy intake, and a sedentary lifestyle have been identified in relation to decreased risk of developing prostate cancer. The majority of cases are not considered to result from inherited germline mutations but are acquired somatic mutations instead. The knowledge of the pathogenic and clinical significance of these genes contributes to understanding genetic predisposition to prostate cancer and how they can be used clinically.
Another myth centers on the confusion between diseases which affect the prostate. Enlargement of the prostate is not cancer, and the majority of American men over the age of 50 are affected by this disease. Prostate cancer is characterized by cancerous cells growing in an uncontrolled manner. The opposition to the idea of treating cancer with suppression chemicals or surgical removal of the prostate centers on the belief that other, potentially life-threatening, diseases arise as a result of ’emptying the message of the glandless prostate. Finally, African descent and possibly diet are unique contributors to the genetic and environmental content of tumor cells in American men. The myth surrounding prostate cancer is based on the premise that removing the prostate would be fruitless.
Common misconceptions or myths surrounding prostate cancer heighten the fear and confusion men have associated with this insidious disease. The myths are apparently further propagated by the fact that prostate cancer and treatment of patients have only come into view of the public in recent years. It is incorrectly perceived that prostate cancer is a disease of the 1990s. Prostate cancer has, however, been well documented for many years in the United States and is the most common non-skin cancer in American men. Each year, several thousand men will die from the disease. Falls from the latter stages of the disease, coupled with benign (not cancerous) test results, decrease the risk for a sudden explosion in patient numbers.
The outlook for younger men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer is generally more favorable. If the cancer hasn’t spread, it can be treated. But it is concerning that this increase in young men being diagnosed coincides with a worrying lack of awareness of prostate cancer in younger men. Because prostate cancer is on the radar of older men, this subgroup is less likely to be diagnosed late, but they’ll be less prepared for the news. If you’re under 50 and worried that your symptoms might be due to prostate cancer, talk to your GP. Although it is far more likely that you have a less serious condition, your GP can help to put your mind at ease.
Myth: “Prostate cancer only affects older men.”
It is true that the risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age. The condition is rare in men under 50. It is more common in men over 50, particularly those who are overweight or have a family history of prostate cancer.
But one in ten men diagnosed with prostate cancer is under 50. The number of younger men being diagnosed with prostate cancer is increasing. Part of this rise is linked to obesity, but the rising rates of diagnoses could also be down to early detection. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test was only introduced in the UK in the 1990s. Since then, the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer has risen. About half of all new cases of prostate cancer are picked up through PSA testing.
Despite this, there are misconceptions about the seriousness of prostate cancer. For example, the fact that prostate cancer is now diagnosed at an earlier stage, before it has spread to other sites in the body, has caused some individuals to believe that prostate cancer is no longer lethal. The fact that currently most men with localized prostate cancer do not die from their cancer has contributed to the misleading notion that prostate cancer is not lethal. However, while many men with localized prostate cancer do not suffer any lethal effects from the disease, if prostate cancer is not found and treated early, it can become metastatic and spread to the bones or other areas of the body, where it can be fatal.
Prostate cancer is serious, and it can be deadly if it is not diagnosed and treated. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men except for skin cancer. It is estimated that 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year and that 30,000 men die from the disease each year. While early-stage prostate cancer can often be treated successfully, it is a serious disease that is responsible for numerous deaths among American men.
In contrast to these myths, research demonstrates that the factors most strongly associated with survival in prostate cancer patients are extreme age, poor performance status, and advanced disease stage. These are not factors directly associated with poor quality management, but they highlight groups of patients with high disease burdens who might benefit from additional supportive care. It may also be the case that lifestyle and support interventions are particularly helpful for this group of patients, and indeed there is already a number of studies that demonstrate modest survival impact from such interventions, particularly in the palliative care setting. More work is needed to further identify these high-risk populations among prostate cancer patients who are more likely to benefit from supportive care interventions before and during their cancer journey.
Prostate cancer is one of the leading malignancies in men, and the evidence suggests that its prevalence and burden are rising despite advances in management. It is important to make sure that men are getting access to better quality information. Some of the prostate cancer myths include “Prostate cancer only occurs in older men,” “Problems with your prostate mean you have prostate cancer,” “Prostate cancer can’t be detected before you have symptoms,” and “Only a very small group of men are impacted by prostate cancer,” among others. The common features of these myths are that they could potentially stop individuals from going to see their doctor to better understand the nature of their symptoms, and that their risk of prostate cancer might be higher than they believe.
Focusing on European data, prostate cancer is the fourth most common male cancer, representing 10% of the total new male cancer cases and 3.6% of the total cancer cases. There is great heterogeneity in the rates measured across Europe. Since 1995, the incidence rate has been slowly increasing due to population ageing, increased detection of cases through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and increased exposure to economic and lifestyle risk factors. However, provided that the rates of prostate-specific mortality are decreasing, the likelihood of dying from the disease is lower (7.65% probability of mortality compared to the 13.37% worldwide).
As of September 2019, global age-standardized incidence rates of prostate cancer in 185 countries are available. In 2018, estimates of global incidence showed that prostate cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, and the fourth in developed regions. A total of 1.3 million new cases were estimated, with the highest reported incidence rates in Australia/New Zealand and in Western and Northern Europe. Estimations from 20 December 2018 also show that prostate cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in men and the fifth in developed countries. A total of 358,989 deaths were estimated, with the highest reported mortality rates in the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe, and in Oceania. However, great disparities occur even across continents, with the highest mortality rates amongst black men in the US and the Caribbean.
Despite years of research, no clear links between diet or lifestyle and prostate cancer have emerged. Many of the studies have had conflicting results; however, some have concluded that a healthful diet may play a role in preventing prostate cancer. These studies suggest that men may reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by increasing the amount of fish consumption, vitamin E, and lycopene consumption in their diets while reducing the amount of fat they consume. These results illustrate that research still must address these areas before substantial evidence may support the conclusions. Since no single approach will likely prevent all cases of prostate cancer from developing, the search has also expanded into finding ways to prevent or stop the progression of early cancers into a clinical disease, developing better materials to support risk assessment, and selected therapies for men at an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Risk factors can increase a specific person’s risk, but it does not determine who will get cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop the disease, while others with no apparent risk do. The fact that increasing age is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer suggests that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of this cancer. Indeed, they often interact in complex ways to affect prostate cancer risk. Some risk factors, such as race or family history, cannot be changed, but diet is one factor that can and is an area of much ongoing research. Research into modifiable risk factors for prostate cancer has expanded, with attention focused on three prominent areas: diet, means of screening for prostate cancer, and how certain activities performed earlier in life may affect the development of prostate cancer.
Guidelines for prostate cancer patients in clinical research. Researchers use many language and exclusions for descriptions of clinical trials. These requirements are important and enable the researchers to identify that patients in the trial have the best chance to benefit from the experimental treatment.
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer medicines to kill cancer cells, just by removing hormones or blocking their action and hormone therapy. In other kinds of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, called brachytherapy, doctors implant a radioactive source inside the prostate. In this way, by exposing cancer cells to radiation right on the spot, you can give a high dose of radiation to your prostate.
Poor nutrition. Data that examines prostate cancer incidence among different populations indicate that a diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer, while a diet high in certain fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. These data agree with the results of the laboratory research conducted to date. However, population surveys reviewed by the ACS, such as those involving diet, do not provide definitive evidence. To identify any food or nutrient intake which influences the risk of prostate cancer, well-designed studies with large numbers of cases of the disease are required. Scientists will also depend on laboratory studies that may point to the exact agents in food that are potentially cancer-protective. Sometimes, scientists will be able to offer very specific nutritional prevention or cancer protection advice, particularly as food relates to a person’s genetic background. In other cases, offering clear advice will not be possible.
Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors. Only 5 to 10 percent of all prostate cancers are thought to be hereditary, meaning that they run in some families. Research evidence shows a link between having a father or brother with prostate cancer and increased risk of the disease. In particular, considerable evidence suggests that men who have a first degree relative with prostate cancer may have double the lifetime risk of developing the disease. Gene pool estimates point to the small chromosome changes in the genome as key risk factors.
In the meantime, health professionals should consider promoting whole food-based diets in their patients by providing them with information on the most current recommendations of the American Cancer Society, American Institute for Cancer Research, and World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research in order to maximize the clinical benefits for their cancer patients. Also, expanding the geographical impact of these dietary recommendations to prostate cancer survivors and their families may impact the incidence and death rate of prostate cancer in the general population as a prophylactic. As a result, increasing overall awareness of these dietary recommendations to the general public now and in the future may realize a reduction in the number of prostate cancer patients and associated tumorigenic pain for many.
Since prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer development and death in men worldwide, efforts to reduce its development and/or progression will create meaningful clinical impact. Serving as a compliment to current treatments, the human diet plays an important role in prostate tumor prevention, development, and/or progression. Data generated to date in the lab, from cancer patients, and from the prostate cancer patients on the US Western Pacific Islands provide direct evidence for the recommendation of some dietary components for prostate cancer patients. Conducting clinical trials in the patients with early-stage prostate cancer should provide further supportive evidence for those dietary components identified in the lab and the patients on the US Western Pacific Islands. That is, ultimately, the overall goal of this coordinated, multi-generation study.