Introduction:

Only males have a prostate, a glandular organ. It encircles the stem of the bladder and the foremost section of the urethra and provides a discharge to the semen. This gland is cone-shaped and its vertical diameter is about 3 cm and its transverse diameter is about 4 cm. It consists of 5 lobes posterior, anterior, a median lobe and two lateral ones. As the foremost section of the urethra goes through it, any sort of cuts in the prostate tends to create problems in urination.

Prostate Gland Ailments:

1. Prostatitis:

Here, on account of bacterial infection, the prostate gland tends to swell up.

2. Benign Distension of Prostate:

This is usually observed in people over 50 years of age and it’s a non-cancerous tumor of the prostate.

3. Prostate Cancer:

Of all the cancerous diseases in males, this is proven to be the fourth most widely occurring cause of death.

Prostate Cancer:

Prostrate cancer is directly connected with the androgens or male sex hormones. With the rise in the sex hormone levels, the cancer growth rate also intensifies. Once the testes are taken out, it is observed that there is a significant decrease in the tumor size.

Tumor Location:

The posterior lobe is the major location for prostate cancer. In the other lobes, benign distension is observed.

Changes That Cancer Causes In The Gland:

The gland turns stiff with an uneven surface due to loss of usual lobulation. Prostate cancer, histologically, is an adeno carcinoma (that is cancer of the gland’s epithelial cells)

Growth:

Prostate cancer has an extremely rapid growth rate. The tumor applies pressure on the urethra and leads to urination problems.

Spread of Tumor:

In prostrate cancer, metastasis occurs extremely fast.

1. Local spread:

The cancer cells, commencing from the prostrate gland’s posterior lobe spread to its lateral lobes and then to the seminal vesicles. Moreover, tumor cells spread to the urinary bladder’s stem and base.

2. Lymphatic spread:

Cancer cells via the lymph vessels get to the lymph nodes’ internal & external illiac group. Next these cells spread to retroperitonial (at the back of the peritonium) and the mediastinal lymph nodes (present in the chest area)

3. Spread via blood:

It is via the periprostatic venous plexus that cancer cells spread and arrive at the vertebral veins when sneezing and coughing and lastly reache the lumbar vertebrae’s vertebral bodies.

Prostate Cancer - Signs & Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms are based on the stage of cancer. The below symptoms may be detected.

1. No symptoms:

It is only in the gland’s posterior lobe that the tumor occurs and it is small in size. This is identified by chance.

2. Slight problem in urinating:

In this case the tumor becomes very big and the urethra is somewhat pressed down. Before long there will be repeated urge to urinate with urination being difficult.

3. With the spread of the tumor to all the surrounding areas including the stem of the bladder and the urethra, one will experience smarting urination accompanied by bleeding. Urine falls one drop at a time.

4. Urine Retention:

Once the urethra is totally pressed down, there will be urine retention. This can result in hydronephrosis, renal failure, etc. When this happens, patient may develop convulsions because of renal failure and lastly go into coma.

5. Metastasis Signs:

Quite a few patients arrive with metastasis’ indications and symptoms.

a. Lumbo sacral soreness on account of the cancer cells spreading to the lumbar and the sacral vertebrae.

b. Cancerous development in the spine may lead to spinal fracture.

c. Inflammation, pain and fluid accumulation in the abdomen because of abdominal lesions.

d. Respiratory problems because of the cancer of lungs and mediastinal lymphnodes.

e. General debility because of the cancer spreading to various body parts.

f. Anemia because of the bone marrow being involved and greater than before obliteration of RBCs.

Clinical Check Up:

This includes examination of the rectum so that the prostate gland can be felt, palpation of the abdomen in order to feel the inflammation of kidneys and presence of any tumors. To detect any lesions, patient is checked from top to down.

Investigations:

1. Comprehensive blood investigations:

WBC, RBC, Platelets, ESR, bleeding time, coagulating time, etc.

2. Urine analysis:

Study under the microscope to spot pus cells, casts, crystals, occult blood, etc.

3. Kidney function tests:

Serum creatinine level, blood urea level, electrolyte level, etc.

4. Serum acid phosphatase:

Goes up in prostate cancer.

5. Spine X-ray:

To identify any fracture or tumor

6. Ultra sonography:

Provides impression about prostate, kidney, bladder, etc.

7. C T Scan:

Provides more exhaustive information regarding organs and tumor.

8. MRI of the Spine:

Offers comprehensive information regarding spine, disc and surrounding delicate tissues.

9. Lymphangiography:-

Provides impressions regarding the lymphatic spreading of cancer

10. Confirming Cancer Through Biopsy:

Biopsy is extracted from the tumor and dispatched for histopathological microscopic study. This will identify the cancer cells existence.

Treatment:

1. Catheterization is required in case of urine retention.

2. In case of renal failure, dialysis is needed.

3. Monitoring of all the crucial functions together with parentral nourishment and electolyte supply, in case of coma.

4. Prostatectomy (taking out the prostate) is done in specific treatment

Partial prostatectomy:

In this case just the diseased lobe is taken out.

Radical prostatectomy:

Here, complete extraction of the prostate together with neighboring lymph nodes.

5. Hormone therapy:

To decrease tumor growth, Stilbestrol is administered. As this treatment raises the possibility for cardiovascular disease, these days phosphorylated diethyle stilbesterol is administered.

6. Chemotherapy:

Drugs such as cisoplatim, cyclophosphamide, etc. are prescribed.

7. In certain cases, radiotherapy is resorted to.

8. Homoeopathy:

Homoeopathic medicines such as conium, carcinocin, crotalus, sabal, sulphur, thuja, selinium, iodum, staphysagria, etc. can be taken depending on symptoms. Constitutional homoeopathic drugs will provide immense relief and can lengthen the life term.

9. Meditation and yoga are also beneficial.