Prostate cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the early symptoms of prostate cancer?
Early-stage prostate cancer is often asymptomatic and detected via PSA screening.As the tumor enlarges, symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, difficulty urinating, and a weak urinary stream appear.Advanced stages present with hematuria, bone pain, and lower-extremity edema.
2. Does elevated PSA necessarily indicate prostate cancer?
Elevated PSA does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer.Conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), inflammation, urinary retention, and recent digital rectal examination can all cause PSA levels to rise.PSA density and PSA velocity help differentiate the causes.
3. What are the surgical treatment options for prostate cancer?
Standard prostatectomy involves removing the prostate, seminal vesicles, and a portion of the vas deferens, followed by reconstruction of the vesicourethral anastomosis.Options include open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robot-assisted surgery.
4. What is minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer?
Robot-assisted prostatectomy is a mainstream minimally invasive surgical approach; 3D visualization and precise manipulation facilitate the preservation of neurovascular bundles.Laparoscopic surgery offers small incisions and rapid recovery.
5. What is endocrine therapy for prostate cancer?
Endocrine therapy inhibits tumor growth by lowering androgen levels in the body.Medical castration involves the use of LHRH agonists or antagonists.Anti-androgen drugs block the action of testosterone on cancer cells.
6. How are bone metastases treated in advanced prostate cancer?
Bone metastases are common and impact quality of life.Bisphosphonates or denosumab are used to prevent skeletal-related events.Local radiotherapy helps alleviate bone pain.Radionuclides, such as radium-223, are used for multiple bone metastases.
7. Follow-up after prostate cancer treatment
Regularly monitor PSA levels post-surgery and intervene promptly in the event of biochemical recurrence.Following standard treatment, PSA levels should drop to undetectable levels;however, the decline is slower after radiotherapy.
