• What is prostate cancer syndrome?


    Prostate cancer syndrome is the genetic predisposition to develop prostate cancer. If any relative has had or has died from this type of cancer or any other, is a good idea to visit your doctor specially if you are 40 years old or over, screening tests before having symptoms might change the course of cancer.

    Prostate Cancer Symptoms

    • Frequent urination, especially at night
    • Trouble urinating, such as frequent starting and stopping
    • Pain or burning during urination
    • Blood in your semen or urine
    • Pain in the back, pelvis and/or hips
    • Painful ejaculation

    Prostate Cancer Treatment

    Active surveillance: at the early stages of cancer, if you're older, or if it grows slowly. This means that your doctor checks you every three to six months at the beginning. One year later your doctor may order a new biopsy or more tests. This treatment avoids side effects from surgery or radiation, but if the cancer spreads you won't be able to control it.

    • Chemotherapy: when the prostate cancer has spread and other treatments are not working. Sometimes the patient remains at the hospital for the treatment. Side effects are hair loss, poor appetite, nausea, and bruising. They tend to disappear after treatment.

    • Hormone Therapy: combined with radiation therapy, or alone if the cancer has returned. It blocks the natural hormones that feed prostate cancer. In some cases the testicles need to be removed.

    • Surgery: at early stages of prostate cancer, and sometimes at later stages. The surgeon is made to remove all or part of your prostate. Depending on the surgery method, recovery will vary. Ask about impotence and urinary incontinence after the surgery.

    • Radiation Therapy: often used at an early stage, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Radiation is administered from a machine(external); or when radioactive "seeds" are implanted inside the body(internal).

    Healing process: recommendations after prostate surgery

    Some aspects you may find in your way after prostate surgery are:

    • Urinary incontinence
    • Impotence or erectile dysfunction
    • Constipation
    • Diet changes

    The most important after the surgery is to recover a few days at the hospital, of course the recovering process depends on the procedure and on your body's response. While at home no hard work should be done and short walks are needed to strength your pelvis area.

    After the surgery another visit to the doctor will be necessary to check the surgery outcome and to check the catheter or to remove it. And last but not least, patience, positive thoughts will provide that extra power you need to overcome and to become another prostate cancer syndrome or prostate cancer survivor.

    Carcinoma-related Topics: Differentiated Carcinoma | Papillary Carcinoma