Prostate Cancer Overview:
The prostate is a glandular organ present only in males. Only men develop prostate cancer. The prostate is normally about 3 cm long (slightly more than 1 inch) and lies at the neck of the bladder and in front of the rectum.
The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is a tubular structure that carries sperm and urine out of the penis.
- The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is a tubular structure that carries sperm and urine out of the penis.
- The prostate produces a thin, milky fluid that is added to the sperm at the time of ejaculation.
- Older men often have an enlarged prostate, which a noncancerous condition is called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) that causes urinary symptoms.
Almost all prostate cancers arise from the secretory glandular cells in the prostate. Cancer arising from a glandular cell is known as adenocarcinoma. Therefore, almost all prostatic cancers are prostatic adenocarcinomas.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate begins to develop before birth and keeps on growing until a man reaches adulthood. Male hormones (called androgens) cause this growth. If male hormone levels are low, the prostate gland will not grow to full size. In older men, though, the part of the prostate around the urethra may keep on growing. This causes BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) which can lead to problems passing urine because the prostate can press on the urethra. BPH is a problem that often must be treated, but it is not cancer.
There are several types of cells in the prostate, but nearly all prostate cancers start in the gland cells. This kind of cancer is known as adenocarcinoma. The rest of the information here refers only to prostate adenocarcinoma.
Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly. Autopsy studies show that many older men (and even younger men) who died of other diseases also had prostate cancer that never caused a problem during their lives. These studies showed that as many as 7 to 9 out of 10 men had prostate cancer by age 80. But neither they nor their doctors even knew they had it.
What is Prostate cancer causes?
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but the cancer is not thought to be related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The risk (predisposing) factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics (heredity), hormonal influences, and such environmental factors as toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age. Thus, prostate cancer under age 40 is extremely rare, while it is common in men older than 80 years of age. As a matter of fact, some studies have suggested that among men over 80 years of age, 50%-80% of them may have prostate cancer! More than 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years of age.
However, research aimed at understanding how cancer cells start to grow and spread may indicate some contributing factors. These factors include:
- Testosterone
- Age
- Heredity
- Genetics
- Diet
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:
Prostate cancer is often accompanied by a number of unique symptoms. The prostate is located just below the bladder in the lower pelvis. As urine empties out of the bladder it travels through a thin tube called the urethra. At the very beginning of the urethra, just as it exits the bladder, it passes directly through the prostate. As the prostate enlarges due to cancer or another problem, the urethra is pinched tighter and tighter within the prostate. As the tube narrows, urine has a much harder time making its way through the urethra and out of the body. This results in four primary urinary symptoms:
- Frequency – urinating much more often than normal.
- Urgency – having a sensation that you need to urinate immediately.
- Nocturia – getting up to urinate multiple times during the night.
- Hesitancy – difficulty starting the urine stream.
All of these symptoms are a direct result of the urethra being pinched closed by the enlarged prostate. Prostate cancer is not the only disease that can cause the prostate to swell, however. In fact, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a much more common cause of an enlarged prostate and, thus, of urinary symptoms. BPH is not cancer, but is still an important condition that should be treated by a physician.
Other Less Common Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:
- Blood in the urine.
- Blood in the semen.
- New-onset erectile dysfunction (impotence).
- Bone pain (especially in the lower back, hips, or ribs).
- Loss of bladder control.
These symptoms are less specific to problems with the prostate (meaning that problems with other organs such as the bladder can also cause them). However, they are important symptoms of which to be aware.
rostate Cancer Treatment at Best Cancer Hospitals in India
The treatment of prostate cancer depends on several factors such as
- Stage at which cancer was detected and diagnosed
- The age of the patient
- The health of the patient
- Whether the cancer is a recurrence
- Speed with which the cancer is growing
Green Light Laser PVP : Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP), also known as the Green Light Laser, has emerged as the treatment of choice for most patients having surgery for BPH. It is minimally invasive in the sense that all the work to open the prostate channel is made through the penis, without an incision on the abdomen.
The obstructive prostate tissue is vaporized by the directed laser beam. This is done under spinal or general anesthesia. The advantages of this approach over the traditional TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) are many:
- Rapid urine flow improvement.
- Quick return to normal activities.
- Virtually bloodless procedure.
- Outpatient procedure in otherwise healthy patients.
Radical Prostatectomy Surgery: Radical prostatectomy surgery aims to remove the whole prostate gland and the nearby lymph nodes. After the prostate gland is taken out through an incision, a catheter (a narrow rubber tube) is put in the bladder to carry urine out of the body until the area heals.
Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: The surgeon deploys a Laproscope a thin tube with a tiny camera. Its a minimally invasive procedure where small cuts are made near the tumor site, and thin tools are used to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. Usually patient are given general anaesthesia or an epidural or spinal anaesthesia that blocks nerve routes from the spine and numbs the area. If the cancer spreads outside the esophagus, it often goes to the lymph nodes first. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the body’s immune system.) Esophageal cancer can also spread to almost any other part of the body, including the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.
External Beam Radiotherapy: This is a treatment where high-energy X-rays are aimed at a cancer to cure or control it. The X-rays come from a machine called a linear accelerator. This is known as external beam radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy utilizes high vitality waves to treat disease. On the off chance that your growth has not spread past the prostate organ you can have radiotherapy to endeavor to cure it. This is called radical radiotherapy. This sort of treatment includes giving a high measurements of radiation to the prostate organ.
Hormone therapy: Disease of the prostate relies upon the male hormone testosterone for its development. By diminishing the measure of testosterone in your body, the development of growth cells can be backed off or halted. It can recoil the tumor and urinary side effects can regularly vanish completely.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the utilization of medications to cure or control malignancy. Chemotherapy may be utilized if your disease has spread past the prostate and is no longer controlled by hormone treatment. Chemotherapy will enhance your quality of life with better control of your side effects.
Estimated Cost for Prostate Cancer Surgery at Best Cancer Hospitals in India
Prostate Cancer Surgery Cost in India – $4500-5500
Cost Estimate above include Hospital stay, surgeon fee, medicines, nursing care and food, Airport Pick & Drop. Email the patient medical reports to us at [email protected] to get the Free Medical Opinion & Accurate Treatment Cost from India’s Top Doctors at Best Cancer Hospital in India within 24-48 Hours.
Prostate Cancer Surgery:
Surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) is a treatment option for localized prostate cancer (early-stage cancer that has not spread out of the prostate). The prostate, surrounding tissues, seminal vesicles and the portion of the urethra that runs through the prostate are all removed. The surgery takes two to four hours and is done under general anesthesia (unconscious) or, less commonly, regional anesthesia (frozen from the waist down). Patients usually stay in the hospital for two to five days after the surgery and must wear a catheter (a tube to drain urine) for 10 days to three weeks.
A prostatectomy is a one-time procedure that, in most cases, removes the cancer entirely. Many specialists believe that radical prostatectomy offers the greatest chance of long-term survival (past seven to 10 years). It is the most aggressive treatment option and, unfortunately, has the greatest risk of side effects.
Treatment option for Prostate cancer:
The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on your age, your overall health and whether the tumor has spread. For tumors that are still inside the prostate, radiation therapy (using a type of X-rays to kill the cancer cells) and a surgery called radical prostatectomy are common treatment options. “Watchful waiting” is also a treatment option. In this approach, no treatment is given until the tumor gets bigger. Watchful waiting may be the best choice for an older man who has a higher risk of dying from something other than his prostate cancer.
Usually, tumors that have grown beyond the edge of the prostate can’t be cured with either radiation or surgery. They can be treated with hormones that slow the cancer’s growth.
Prostate Cancer Surgery benefits:
Men stricken with prostate cancer before the age of 65 often might be better off undergoing surgery to remove the prostate gland rather than waiting to see how the disease develops. The researchers found that, over 15 years, 14.6 percent in the immediate surgery group died of prostate cancer, versus 20.7 percent, of those in the watchful waiting group. The patients in the watchful waiting group also were more likely to see their cancer spread to other parts of the body, requiring additional treatment.
For older men, doctors are much more apt to recommend less aggressive treatment for prostate cancer because it generally is so slow-growing.
Prostate Cancer Surgery Preparation:
Preparation for Prostate cancer surgery requires:
- The hospital will undoubtedly want to do some preliminary work before your surgery. Blood work to check things like iron levels, blood type, and a number of other items.
- They’ll probably do a urine test to in order to ensure there are no infections. If so, they’ll have time to start an antibiotic to remedy that.
- The hospital should do an EKG and chest x-ray in order to check your hear and lungs out a few days or a week before surgery.
- Stop drinking. I don’t drink, but if you can stop drinking alcohol pre-surgery, doctors say it will help with recovery. Or at least moderate it.
Prostate Cancer Surgery Complications:
Complications of prostate cancer surgery are:
- Cancer that spreads– Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Prostate cancer that spreads to other areas of the body is more difficult to treat than cancer that is confined to the prostate.
- Incontinence– Both prostate cancer and its treatment can cause urinary incontinence. Treatment for incontinence depends on the type you have, how severe it is and the likelihood it will improve over time. Treatment options may include medications, catheters and surgery.
- Erectile dysfunction– Erectile dysfunction can be a result of prostate cancer or its treatment, including surgery, radiation or hormone treatments. Medications, vacuum devices that assist in achieving erection and surgery are available to treat erectile dysfunction.
Recovery after Prostate Cancer Surgery:
Prostrate cancer surgery requires hospital stay for a particular period. The duration of hospital stay may vary depending on the type of the performed surgery and the general health of the patient who has undergone the surgery. In general, patients are required to stay in the hospital for about 3-5 days after prostrate cancer surgery. Patients who have undergone the surgical procedures with minimal invasive techniques usually recover faster than others. Accordingly, the prostrate cancer recovery period also varies.
During the recovery period after the prostrate cancer surgery, a catheter is used for holding urine. Based on the patient’s condition, the catheter may be retained for about 1-3 weeks or until the urinary tract is healed properly. Dressings at the surgery sites are changed regularly to fasten healing and avoid infections. For managing pain and discomfort after surgery, the doctor may prescribe over-the-counter pain killers and other medications.
Regarding prostrate cancer surgery recovery, the swelling usually reduces within a month. By this time, the urine control of the patient also improves gradually. Slow exercises are usually advised to increase blood circulation and reduce blood clots in the legs. The patient can perform walking exercise along with stair climbing during the prostrate cancer recovery period. However, he should abstain from lifting of heavy objects and other rigorous exercises at least for 4-6 months.
Life after Prostate Cancer Surgery:
Follow-up care is a life-long reality for men who have had prostate cancer surgery. For most men, the follow-up care is as simple and tolerable as an occasional PSA blood test to determine whether the cancer returns. If the cancer does return, quick detection and proper treatment can make a major difference. Some men may need follow-up hormone treatments, chemotherapy or radiation. Treatment for erectile dysfunction is also a possibility in the post-cancer surgery period.
Cost of Prostate Cancer Treatment Surgery in India
Cost of Prostate Cancer Treatment Surgery in India:
- India’s favorable exchange rate and the cost of healthcare services are at an extensively lower cost than that of other countries. If you’re coming from a Western country such as the United States or Britain, medical procedures in India will generally cost a fraction of the price as compared to prices back home.
- Low cost is not the only criteria, patient looks for a quality output with low cost. India is proving to be much beneficial for such patients as the cost of the treatment is low without compromising the quality.
- Prostate Cancer Treatment surgery in India: There are many reasons to select India for Prostate Cancer Treatment surgery. As it is one of the best medical tourist destinations across the world. Quite a few Indian cities have emerged as medical tourism hotspots for foreign patients.
