What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a tumor in your prostate gland, a small, walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid. 

Where is the prostate?

The prostate is located just below the bladder, two inches inside the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis during urination. The size of the prostate can change with age. It is walnut-sized in younger men, but it can be much larger in older men.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Some men do not have any symptoms at all with prostate cancer. However, common symptoms of prostate cancer affect the urinary system, and include:

• Decreased force in urine flow
• Urinating frequently
• Starting and stopping
• Urgent need to urinate
• Waking up to urinate
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain during urination
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Blood in the urine 
• Chronic pelvic or back pain
• Blood in semen

A common condition known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, also shares some of the symptoms of prostate cancer. A urologist can determine whether you have BPH or prostate cancer by performing a thorough exam. 

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Your provider at Urological Associates will determine which method of diagnosis is most appropriate for you, and could include one or more of the following:

• Digital rectal exam (DRE) - When a doctor manually checks the prostate for lumps.
• Transrectal ultrasound
• Transrectal MRI 
• Biopsy 
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test - A blood test that shows higher PSA levels, which is a possible indicator for prostate cancer.
• MRI fusion prostate biopsy - A biopsy that fuses the MRI scan of your prostate with an ultrasound image while your surgeon performs the biopsy. 

What causes prostate cancer?

It is still unclear what causes prostate cancer, however, we know that it begins when cells in the prostate become abnormal. When abnormal cells begin to grow out of control, they form a tumor. 

Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

The following factors can put you at in increased risk for prostate cancer:

• Age
• African American race
• Family history
• Obesity

What is the treatment for prostate cancer?

Urological Associates has a number of leading-edge treatment options for prostate cancer:

• Provenge immunotherapy - Helps your body fight cancer cells. 
• Radical prostatectomy - Removal of the prostate, which is the best treatment for cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate gland.
• Retropubic prostatectomy - Removal of part or all of the prostate and some of the surrounding tissue.

Your Urological Associates surgeon will also take tissue and lymph node samples from around the prostate to make sure there are no stray cancer cells left behind. The surgeons at Urological Associates specialize in performing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP). 

The RALRP procedure uses the most advanced robotic technology, which provides your surgeon with the greatest control and ensures the utmost precision. As a result, you experience minimal pain and a speedier recovery. Urological Associates performs more robotic prostatectomies in Colorado than any other practice, and has six da Vinci robot-trained surgeons.

For expert prostate cancer care, call Urological Associates today or book an appointment online.