Prostate Cancer and Men's Health Research Assignment

Prostate Cancer and Men's Health
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Prostate Cancer and Men's Health
Prostate cancer prevention involves screening and testing for prostate cancer targeting men with no symptoms of the disease. Screening and testing involve contemporary methods that incorporate the measurement of serum PSA levels. Other methods of screening involve using digital rectal examination or ultrasonography (Carlsson et al., 2012). Medical experts recommend PSA-based screening methods because many cases of asymptomatic prostate cancer have been detected using this method. A sizeable percentage of men with asymptomatic prostate cancer who have undergone PSA-based screening programs have discovered tumor that mostly do not progress and have remained symptomatic throughout their lives. Prostate cancer screening is likely to reduce death due to prostate cancer and further reduce the development of the disease (Carlsson et al., 2012).
Old age is a strong risk factor for developing prostate cancer; elderly patients are likely to have a higher risk of prostate cancer and less likely to access preventive services due to several factors. Older population underutilizes prostate cancer preventive services owing to the assumptions that they might not be at risk (Moyer, 2012). Age differences explain the difference in cancer survival rate across different ages. These factors support making decisions regarding treatment based on disease risk and life expectancy compared to individual chronologic age.
Certain ethnic population and families with a history of prostate cancer have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Ethnic groups like the Black Americans and Latinos compared to no-Hispanic whites are more likely to die from prostate cancer. Some of the reasons include their less access to screening services due to lack of insurance, low uptake of screening tests, and poor understanding of the treatment options. That is why prostate cancer screening programs are likely to target people with low income (Moyer, 2012).
The main prostate cancer treatment options are surgery, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. If prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it can be controlled by lowering the testosterone in the body using hormone therapy. This involves taking tablets every day or injections at specific intervals. If prostate cancer has spread to the bones, causing severe pain, radiotherapy will be recommended within the affected bone. S...