Malignant
tumour is a prostate cancer of the prostate gland.
Early malignant tumour s are contained within the prostate gland and are called
localised cancers. Spread of the cancer to the surrounding tissues is known as
extracapsular spread, and these tumours are described as being locally
advanced.
There is a
collection of small lymph glands near the prostate that are part of the lymphatic
system – one of the body’s natural defences against infection. Lymph glands
filter out bacteria and other harmful agents. A network of very thin lymph
vessels connects the major lymph glands in the abdomen, pelvis, groin, neck
and armpits. Cancer that develops in the prostate may spread (or metastasise)
via the lymphatic system or blood stream to other parts of the body, such as
the bones.
How common is malignant tumour ?
malignant tumour occurs mainly in men aged over 50 years and is the most
common cancer among New Zealand men. Around 3000 men are diagnosed with malignant
tumour in New Zealand each year.
Causes of malignant tumour
The causes of malignant tumour are not yet fully understood, but
the risk of developing malignant tumour increases with age. The risks are also higher
if other family members have developed this cancer. There is some evidence to
support that a diet that is high in animal fat increases the chance of
developing malignant tumour . While it is not possible to make clear
recommendations about a particular diet, a lower fat, high fruit and vegetable
diet is linked with a reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases and is an
overall recommendation towards improving health.
Symptoms
Malignant
tumour that hasn’t spread to other parts of the body
usually causes no symptoms. Many men over 50 have urinary symptoms, such as:
- passing urine more frequently
- difficulty urinating – starting or stopping
- poor flow of urine
- getting up at night more frequently to urinate.
These symptoms
are usually due to pressure on the urethra from an enlarged prostate (benign,
not cancerous). If malignant tumour has
occurred without the above symptoms the first symptoms to present could be due
to the cancer having spread from the prostate gland:
- pain or burning when urinating
- blood in the urine
- pain in the lower back, hips or ribs.
It is important
to have all symptoms checked by a doctor to exclude a cancer.
How is malignant tumour diagnosed?
A
number of tests can be performed to help determine if you have malignant tumour . You
may have some or all of the following tests:
Digital rectal examination (DRE)
The
first test is usually an examination of the prostate gland through the back passage (rectum).
This is called a digital rectal examination.
The doctor puts
a gloved finger into your rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal
wall. If your doctor finds anything suspicious, such as irregularity in the
shape or texture of the prostate, a biopsy may be arranged.
Blood test (PSA)
A
blood test may be done to check for the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
There are many causes for a high PSA, including benign enlargement of the
prostate and inflammation or infection of the gland (prostatitis), but a
high PSA can also be caused by malignant tumour .
An elevated PSA
test merely indicates your risk of having malignant tumour is higher compared to a person with a normal
PSA. A general rule of thumb is that if you have a PSA higher than four, the risk
of cancer is sufficiently great to consider a biopsy. The higher the PSA is
above four, the greater the risk of cancer.
Treatment
Your
doctor will use a
range of criteria to help determine the type of treatment to recommend. They
include the volume or size of the prostate, the Gleason Score, the pattern of
growth, the PSA, and the area where the cancer is located.
Treatment
considerations vary from one man to another, depending on the age of the man,
the stage of the cancer, the tumour grade, and the presence or absence of other
serious medical conditions.
Options your
doctor will consider include:
- watchful waiting
- surgery
- radiation therapy
- hormone therapy
- a combination of the treatments listed above.
In general,
radical (or curative) treatment will be required by patients aged 70 years or
younger who have no evidence of metastases, and are otherwise in reasonable
general health.
Most patients
aged 80 years or more don’t need treatment, unless their cancer is an
aggressive one or it is causing symptoms.
Adapted from: http://www.cancernz.org.nz
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