There are two types of prostate tumors in men - benign and malignant. In the first case, they talk about adenoma, the second option involves the diagnosis of cancer. Each of the diseases has specific symptoms, requires proper and responsible treatment. It must be remembered that benign pathology over time can transform into a more dangerous option. Consider the features of the neoplasm localized in the prostate. Let's start with adenoma.
general information
Adenoma is such a prostate tumor in men, in which hyperplasia of organic tissue develops in a benign form. The prostate gland becomes larger under the influence of pathological processes, the organ puts pressure on the channel provided for the removal of urine from the body. It is possible to suspect that the time has come to see a doctor if a person notes a weakening of the outflow of urine and frequent urges to urinate, especially characteristic of the period of night's rest. The onset of bladder emptying is often complicated, there is a delay, and the urge can be sudden and sharp. The clinical manifestations of the pathological process are explained by the proliferation of the organ. Possible obstruction of the course of urine, prostatism.
The clinical symptom of a prostate tumor in a man is BPH. This abbreviation hides such a benign formation, a tumor process that develops in the human body, mainly the male. Up to half of all patients with this phenomenon belong to the age group over 60 years.
Step by step
You can suspect a disease if the process of emptying the bladder brings discomfort, is disturbed. It is customary to distinguish three consecutive stages of the development of the disease. On the first bubble is sluggish, the urge to empty it becomes more frequent at any time of the day.
The second step of progress is accompanied by the accumulation of urine in the bladder. This is accompanied by the danger of complications in the form of an inflammatory process. Emptying the bladder can become a source of pain, some form foci of bleeding.
The third stage of the disease is accompanied by obstruction of the urine diversion pathways from the body. The channel is clogged, the bubble fills beyond measure, while the emptying process is disrupted. In some, this leads to incontinence, in other cases it provokes a violation of the renal system. The cause is the proliferation of the prostate.
Where the trouble came from and how to detect
While doctors can not say for sure why a benign prostate tumor in men can develop. Some reasons and factors are known, but there is no absolutely exact information yet. In general, the main risk criterion is advanced age. Scientists have proven that the processes of tissue hypertrophy depend on the content of testosterone in the body. For example, if a person’s testicles were removed, this hormone is no longer produced, prostate hypertrophy is not detected. Presumably, other hormonal compounds affect. Scientists believe that a hereditary predisposition and metabolic failures play a role.
If it is assumed that there are symptoms of a benign prostate tumor in a man, treatment is chosen only after a complete diagnosis and clarification of the condition. The doctor should study the medical history of the client, collect all his complaints, analyze the observed manifestations. At the international level, a common symptom assessment system has been introduced, which is a standard questionnaire filled out at the reception. It is necessary to check seven basic criteria to understand how disturbed the outflow of urine is. After examining the anamnesis, it is necessary to examine the client, palpate the rectum to determine what the shape of the gland is, how large the organ is. At the same time, the doctor assesses the level of pain in the area, reveals the presence of a focus of inflammation and densified areas. It is necessary to responsibly assess the condition of the patient, as the symptoms may indicate a malignant disease.
Diagnostics
Suspecting the need for treatment as soon as possible against the background of symptoms of a prostate tumor in a man, the doctor sends the client for an ultrasound examination. With the help of such an apparatus, a bubble is assessed in a filled state to reveal what are the dimensions of the gland, how much residual urine is. Additionally, a transrectal assessment of the state of the gland is done using ultrasound. For this, a probe in the form of a small rod is introduced through the intestine into the area of ​​work. Such an event helps to accurately determine the dimensions of the body, the presence and characteristics of structural changes.
The next stage in the study of a condition accompanied by symptoms of a prostate tumor in a man involves sonography. This event can be organized using an ultrasound machine, you can resort to the method of ultrasound imaging. The tool helps to assess the condition of the urinary tract and identify obstruction, if there is such a phenomenon. If necessary, clients can be referred for CT, MRI. Such events will help to assess the risk of malignancy, as well as identify a number of other pathologies. MRI, CT are prescribed if the case is assessed as complex.
Verification Nuances
With symptoms of a prostate tumor in a man, it is necessary to take tissue samples and body fluids for laboratory testing. Urine is obtained to determine markers that indicate inflammatory processes, infection. It is necessary to identify if there are any blood inclusions in the urine. Blood is obtained to detect a prostate-specific antigen. If there is evidence for this, they may additionally prescribe a test for carcinoma.
There are many cases of combined illness. If the internal tissues underwent hyperplasia and an adenoma developed, a portion of the malignant process may form on the external membranes of the organ. Diagnostic measures should be organized so as to accurately determine the fact of a combined disease or to exclude the likelihood of cancer being added.
What to do?
Treatment of a benign prostate tumor in men begins only after a complete diagnosis. If the absence of malignant changes is detected, it is recommended to start therapy when the patient's quality of life decreases, and overall health becomes worse. To minimize the symptoms and exclude the likelihood of further tissue growth, a drug course is prescribed. If the disease has progressed to a severe stage, minimally invasive treatment may be prescribed. Surgery is sometimes indicated.
The classic drug course includes alpha blockers. With benign prostate tumors in men, Silodozin, Tamsoluzin, Alfuzosin have proven themselves well. These medications help to relax the muscle tissue of the prostate, as well as adjust the tone of the neck of the bladder, due to which the process of emptying the organ becomes simpler and less painful. Such medicines are relatively well perceived by the human body, are allowed as an element of the therapeutic course for a long time period.
Effect Features
In the fight against benign prostate tumors in men, some consider drugs made on the basis of plant products to be reliable. Doctors assure: the effectiveness of such medications is quite low, especially in comparison with the effect of alpha-blockers. It is known that a long course of substances that inhibit 5-alpha reductase can provoke a decrease in tumor formation. Studies have shown that such substances prevent the transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, and this leads to a decrease in the size of the prostate. When prescribing a therapeutic course, one must take into account: medications can impair the quality of a person’s sexual life, reduce its activity in an intimate aspect.
Surgeon will help
The classic treatment for a prostate tumor in a man is surgery. To some extent, this approach can be called the gold standard. As a rule, a transurethral electrical organ resection is recommended to the patient. The event is carried out in general anesthesia. The doctor uses a special device designed for such an intervention. The tissues of the body are excised and removed from the body. As the event ends, a catheter is installed for two days - it is designed to divert urine from the bladder.
Another option for treating a prostate tumor in a man is open surgery. The official name is enucleation. This option is indicated if the neoplasm is very large.
An abundance of specific methods for removing excess tissue has been developed — using a laser, chilled substances, and heat. One of the most successful options, some consider laser therapy. In particular, vaporization, that is, evaporation of organic tissue by a green spectrum beam, is practiced. The “Urolift” methodology, developed as minimally invasive, looks promising. A pair of staples are used to secure the gland tissue. Staples are placed using an endoscope. Due to this, the channel for the urine duct becomes wider, while the ejaculatory function is preserved. When using other operating options, this is often irreversibly violated.
The development of the situation: features
Directories in which you can find information, illustrated by a photo, about the symptoms, treatment of prostate tumors in men, characterize benign pathology as a process that develops at a low speed even in the absence of any treatment. If the drug program does not give the desired result, the patient is referred for surgery, the outcome of which in the predominant percentage of cases is positive. The prognosis is favorable for the majority of patients. After the operation, the positive effect lasts a long time.
Status Risks
If there are signs of a prostate tumor in a man who is irresponsibly related to his health, you can miss the moment of the transformation of the pathology into a more aggressive one. The process of rebirth is accompanied by changes at the cellular level. Specific substances are produced in the body, under the influence of which the smallest structures begin to multiply actively. A benign process is a pathological cell division in which there are no metastases, and in the case of removal, the prognosis is positive, the probability of relapse is small. Sometimes such a tumor transforms into a malignant one.
Modern scientists, exploring the possible consequences of a prostate tumor in a man, have found that the process of cell reproduction to some extent depends on signaling proteins that determine embryonic development and the ability of tissues to regenerate. The signals are designed to preserve stem cells, thereby providing the body with the ability to recover. Such a path is necessary when forming an embryo that needs an abundance of cells to build an organism. It is also relevant in those parts of the human body where cell renewal is particularly fast. With the wrong process, signaling proteins cause a tumor.
How is everything going?
Experiments were conducted with mice aimed at identifying the process of transformation of adenoma into a malignant disease. It has been established that in the case of a benign process, signal proteins are inactive, but cancer structures are formed during their activation. The cells that make up a benign tumor surround dangerous structures, and the microenvironment protects against external influences, so the process does not fade.
Malignant disease
In medical guides you can see a lot of photos demonstrating the development of malignant prostate tumors in men. Here are the main symptoms of the disease. It is known that cancer processes usually do not immediately manifest themselves; a long primary stage is latent and impossible to notice. It is recommended that all men older than 45 years of age regularly check the blood for the presence of antigen, examined by a urologist, in order to notice the first signs in time. The sooner a pathological process can be detected, the higher the chance of cure. It is noted that effective treatment at the initial stage may involve the preservation of sexual activity and the ability to control urination.
With a malignant process, some believe that it is possible to practice treatment with folk remedies. Prostate tumors in men in the general case, as the doctors assure, are not treated, the person only prolongs the case, as well as if he does not seek help, simply ignoring the symptoms. Among oncology, a strong half of humanity is localized in the prostate - the second most common in the world. More often, the disease begins to form in people older than 45-50 years, by 60-70 years of age, the risk becomes especially high. If it is possible to find the disease at an early stage, it is likely that the patient will be immediately referred to the surgeon.
Manifestations and Dangers
Descriptions, illustrated photos, of prostate tumors in men contain, among other things, the symptoms of the malignant process. Pathology can be suspected if there are difficulties in emptying the bladder. Especially frequent urination becomes at night, while urine flows weakly, interruptions in the process, accompanied by a burning sensation, are possible. Many patients report a constantly disturbing feeling of incomplete emptying. Only 30-60 minutes after emptying the bladder, the desire to visit the toilet again arises.
As the doctors say, cancer develops in stages, for each of which there are several features. Usually, the Gleason score is used to assess a patient’s condition.
Steps
The first stage is called an encapsulated tumor. As a rule, the stage proceeds latently, without any pronounced manifestations.
The second stage is often also encapsulated. Most manifestations do not. At the first and second stage, the process is usually local.
The third step of cancer is accompanied by the spread of pathology per organ capsule. The first lymph nodes are covered near the gland. Symptoms, manifested in this case - discomfort during emptying of the bladder.
At the fourth stage, cancer processes spread outside the body, encompass the musculoskeletal system, and damage tissues. At this stage, the patient feels an unpleasant rather strong sensation in the bones of the pelvis, back.
See a doctor on time - this is important
Often, the need to remove a prostate tumor in a man is detected only at a late stage of the process. An abundance of cases is known in which a malignant disease was not accompanied by severe discomfort during urination, so the patient was not aware of health problems. In general, the symptoms of evil, benign processes are similar, and the most reliable way to differentiate the condition is by checking the blood for the presence of antigens. It is recommended to visit a doctor regularly. If the urologist suspects a severe case, a biopsy should be done. If the doctor recommended such a study, you can not hesitate.
Anatomy and subtleties of the process
To understand why it is not worth practicing treatment at home, a prostate tumor in men must be imagined at least in general terms, realizing what the process is dangerous, what are its features. It is formed in a small gland, similar in size, shape to a chestnut fruit. Iron surrounds the channel for the passage of urine and generates a liquid, thanks to which sperm can live, and if necessary, throws them out through the channel intended for this. With the cancerous process, organ tissues change and grow.
At the moment, scientists cannot say exactly what causes cancer. The cause of the pathology is the correction of cellular DNA. What initiates them is still unknown. The main risk factor is age. The older the person, the greater the danger. Some studies have also shown that risk is related to heredity. If a blood relative was ill with such a pathology, the probability of its development is twice as much as that of others. More likely to be victims are African Americans than Asian natives or white-skinned. The more a person eats red meat, the greater the danger; the same goes with excessive absorption of fatty foods. Lack of fruits and vegetables in the menu increases the danger.
What to expect?
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When drawing up a treatment plan, the doctor focuses on the patient’s age, estimates the maximum probable duration of the client’s life, and also identifies concomitant diseases - all this will affect what the complex treatment and operation will be like. A prostate tumor in a man begins to be treated when the stage of the disease, its type, form is established. The doctor will formulate how important and necessary the treatment is in a particular case, how high are the chances of success when using one or another method of struggle. When forming a therapeutic course, the patient can express his preferences associated with the risks and undesirable consequences associated with different techniques and drugs.
In some, cancerous processes progress slowly. If the disease is established in a person of advanced age, if other serious disorders and disorders accompany it, the doctor can advise a wait-and-see approach - the disease is simply left to develop, without selecting specific therapy. The patient will be registered and set the frequency of examinations to determine the degree of progress. The doctor will monitor how the condition changes, but will not direct him to radiation or surgery. This is usually chosen if the course of the disease is not associated with severe symptoms, only a portion of the organ is affected. If there are no background pathologies or the client of the hospital is young, if the tumor progresses rapidly, expectant tactics are not applicable.
Recommended Surgery
As you can learn from doctors and patients who are faced with such a need, the recommendation to receive the help of a surgeon is usually frightening and even puts in a state of panic, especially if given against a background of a prostate cancer in a man. Reviews of the consequences after the operation scare many people - it is known that not everyone succeeds in maintaining normal sexual function, many have problems with urination, in addition, there is a danger of relapse of the disease. And yet, to do without intervention, if it is recommended by a doctor, will fail. Currently, they often perform radical surgery with tissue removal or transurethral resection.
A prostatectomy is prescribed if you need to completely remove the cancerous tumor. The technique is applicable if there is no spread outside the original organ. The essence of the method is the removal of the prostate gland and nearby tissues from the body. Several ways have been developed for such an intervention. Most often, a prostatectomy is performed with access above the pubic bone. The event requires general anesthesia. Epidural analgesia is allowed. The patient is shown sedatives. During the intervention, the doctor removes the lymph nodes, directing them to the study in the laboratory. If transformed cells can be detected, then cancer has spread to tissues outside the gland. Since an operation of this type will not allow the patient to be cured, it is stopped.
About the nuances
The nerve responsible for erectile function is located near the prostate. Sometimes the operation allows you to save it, but this is far from being possible in every case. Even before the operation, the doctor will definitely warn of the risk of impotence in the future. If the need to maintain erectile function is assessed as very important, the doctor will take all measures to ensure such an outcome, but if the tumor processes have affected the nerve, it will not work. If the nervous system is not damaged, the potency is restored after surgery for several months, and sometimes even years.