Non Technical Summary : Prostate Cancer

Today, prostate cancer is usually detected through screening, and there are two methods for early detection. The prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) is used, but there are

In the United States, it’s estimated that roughly 1 in 5 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER) of the National Cancer Institute, “the number of new cases of prostate cancer was 129.4 per 100,000 men per year. The number of deaths was 20.7 per 100,000 men per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2009-2013 cases and

In the case for PSA screening, PCa is the leading internal malignancy in US men and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Early detection of prostate cancers offers the best chance of cure. The PSA blood test is the best chance of cure. Currently, the PSA blood test is the best currently available way to detect PCa and it is easy, safe and inexpensive. PSA test results is a piece of information, it is what doctors do with the information that becomes the issue. However, the great majority of PSA detected tumors have the histologic characteristics of clinically important cancers. Also, PSA detection has found tumors early advancing the diagnosis by Seeral years (5-13) and prostate cancer mortality rates in U.S have decreased by 4% (patho book) since 1992, which is 5 years after initiation of prostate screenings. The dilemma is over treating the clinically unimportant disease versus under

Introduction Prostate cancer (PC) has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. An estimated 230,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2014, accounting for 27% of new cancer cases in men [1]. Although 80–90% of PC with metastatic lesions responds to initial androgen ablation therapy, most of these patients ultimately develop progressive disease of hormone refractory cancer [2]. Obesity, as a growing epidemic all over the world, has been linked to mortality of several cancers [3].

There are multiple methods for screening for Prostate Cancer; the most common is Digital Rectal Examination. During a digital rectal exam a doctor inserts a glove, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for any irregular or abnormal firm area in the prostate gland.

Men should talk with a doctor if they are 45 and at high risk for prostate cancer. This includes those with a family history, especially African American men.

Each year approximately 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (Eggener, Cifu, & Nabhan, 2015). In 2015, prostate cancer was the second most common cancer related cause of death among United States men (Eggener, et. al., 2015). While the majority of prostate cancers are slow growing with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 98%, statistics show that when prostate cancer is identified as metastatic, the 5-year survival rate dramatically drops down to 20-25% (Eggener, et. al., 2015). According to these numbers alone, it appears screening for prostate cancer would be a well-accepted practice. However, current methods of screening for this cancer are controversial and has lead organizations like the U.S Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) to different guidelines for screening.

During my research of the High, intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for Prostate Cancer treatment. I found these facts and information on the topic of the HIFU treatment:

At the Prostate Cancer Symposium, sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), two leading clinicians and cancer researchers engaged in a point / counterpoint discussion that proved to be illuminating and directional in moving the focus. Though the discussion was themed to create positions of pro versus con, the reality of their arguments really showed more agreement than not.

The paper Prostate Cancer Screening is written as an analysis of the controversy on the use of screening for prostate cancer. The paper itself is written between doctors Elie Mulhem, Nikolaus Fulbright, and Norah Duncan. The analysis, while likely directed to those in the medical field, is tailored to be easily understood by laypeople. While the paper itself is a somewhat brief, surface level analysis of the situation, it does support the notion that prostate cancer screening through methods like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital-rectal examinations (DRE) have questionable effectiveness. The intention of the paper appears to persuade doctors and the public to the viewpoint that prostate

The use of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the treatment of prostate cancer is considered experimental and/or

Page Description: Prostate cancer can be metastatic if early treatment is not performed. Effective treatment methods like radiation therapy can be helpful in treating the associated symptoms.

The American Cancer Society has reported that 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer throughout their lifetime. There will be an expected 242,000 new cases diagnosed this year resulting in about 30,000 deaths from prostate cancer, which makes it the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Prostate cancer is increasing in numbers and causing many deaths around the world. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is usually a very slow developing cancer. Prostatic Intraepithelial neoplasia or (PIN) is a condition in which the cells inside the prostate have started to grow abnormally. Scientists count the abnormal amount of cells under a microscope and diagnose the level of abnormal cell growth. High levels of PIN

Thirdly, the disease pathology includes causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and comorbidities. Prostate cancer is a disease that affects men from ages 65 to 79 predominantly, with the average age of the diagnosis being between 70 and 74. Only about a quarter of the cases occur in men that are younger than 65. A risk factor is that if a man has a father or brother that has been diagnosed, it is two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer. That risk factor is compared with a man who has no affected relatives. Another risk factor includes a higher incidence of and mortality from prostate cancer in men of black African-Caribbean origin; this is compared with white Caucasian men (Prostate). Prostate cancer is diagnosed first by screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and or a digital

The brochure’s topic on Prostate Cancer Screening is consistent with Healthy People (HP) 2020 objectives on cancer. While the overall objective for all cancers is to “Reduce the number of new cancer cases, as well as the illness, disability, and death caused by cancer” (HP 2020, 2010), the specific objective for prostate cancer is to reduce prostate cancer death rate.