Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer - Research Paper Example

Men of ages more than 60 and whose fathers or brothers already have the cancers are at more risk of developing prostate cancer. Certain other causes of prostate cancer include men being around agent orange, men using too much alcohol, men who are farmers by profession, men who eat a high-fat diet and animal fat, men who are associated with tire plane works, men being painters, and for those who remain around too much of cadmium (Prostate Cancer).

Clinical Manifestations:

In persons affected with prostate cancer, there is a local growth of the tumor in the gland which gradually spreads to different lymph nodes in the region through lymphatics. There is also a hematogenous propagation to isolated metastatic sites. In some patients in whom the cancer is detected at an early stage, the tumor is asymptomatic. However, when the cancer is locally advanced, the symptoms reflect certain obstructions and irritations as the local tumor extends to the urethra and the neck of the bladder. Prostate cancer also creates pain in the bone when the tumor spreads there. Impingement in the spinal cord is also another symptom of prostate cancer (Dreicer and Garcia).
Diagnosis:

Prostate-specific antigen has now been introduced in clinical practice. With this in place, prostate cancer screening is used as a method of diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, this method of diagnosis is still controversial in clinical practices since a decrease in prostate cancer-specific mortality has not been obtained. The American Society of Internal Medicine is however working on the development of diagnostic methods. Several prospective methods of screening are also been tried across the world. “Over the last decade, the penetration of PSA-based screening has caused a stage migration, with an increasing percentage of patients with normal rectal examination findings receiving a diagnosis based on an elevated PSA level (clinical stage T1c in the tumor, node, metastasis [TNM] staging classification)” (Dreicer and Garcia).

Treatment:
Some of the treatments for prostate cancer are standard while some of them are new in clinical trials. The standard treatment methods include active surveillance of the patient to watch his condition and any changes in symptoms. Surgeries like pelvic lymphadenectomy, radical prostatectomy, and transurethral resection of the prostate are done on patients who are fit for the operations. Radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy are some of the other standard treatment methods used for prostate cancer. Other than these standard methods, certain new clinical trials are in being tried in the present day. These include cryosurgery which freezes and destroys the prostate cancer cells through the use of an instrument. Cancer cells are also being destroyed through high-intensity focused ultrasound. Proton beam radiation therapy is also used for prostate cancer treatment. Moreover, with the greater developments, patients are allowed to take part in different clinical trials, even before and after the treatment if needed. There are certain follow-up tests also available that are parts of the treatment measures (Prostate Cancer Treatment).
Prognosis:

When the cancer is at an early stage, the rates of survival are generally good. In later stages, the cure becomes difficult but there may be chances of survival for a longer time. However, if the tumor spreads to distant regions in the body, the chances of survival are for 1-3 years. In some patients, the chances may be longer to live. Cancer may recur in some cases after the early-stage treatment. There are hormone treatments available for such cases that may increase the period of survival in the patients (Prostate Cancer Prognosis).
Role of Physical Therapist in Care, Treatment, and Recovery of Prostate Cancer:
Physiotherapy identifies and maximizes the prospective of movement, within the areas of support, impediment, conduct, and treatment. Physical therapists perform by practicing in a wide range of “inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings such as hospice and palliative care centers where as part of a multidisciplinary team of care, they address the physical and functional dimensions of the patients’ suffering” (Kumar and Jim, 138-146). Therapeutic exercise, electrical modalities, thermal modalities, actinotherapy, mechanical modalities, manual physical therapy, and assistive devices are different treatment methods of physiotherapy that are helpful for a variety of severe conditions similar to prostate cancer and related conditions, HIV, neurodegenerative disorders that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, respiratory problems like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and distorted mental states (Kumar and Jim, 138-146).

Conclusion:
From the above study, it can be concluded that prostate cancer is common among older men and there is a wide range of treatments and diagnosis methods for the cure of cancer. If the cancer is detected at an early stage, the treatment becomes easier while it may be difficult in later stages if the cancer cells spread to different regions of the body. Thus it can be said that with the proper utilization of the treatment measures available, prostate cancer in men should be treated immediately if symptoms are detected such that the cancer cells do not become malignant. Read More