Sunday, September 15, 2019
Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay
Cancer has always been one of the most dreaded diseases of humans. This incurable disease has broken the hearts and spirits of many, and has continuously left an indelible mark in its patients’ lives. One of the cancer types associated with men is prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute website defined prostate cancer as the type of cancer occurring in the male reproductive system, more specifically in the prostate tissues. This type of cancer is normally triggered in older men (n.d.).            In addition to this, the disease also reiterates that genetically mutated cells, known as cancer cells, are present in the prostate. The Prostate Disease website also added that tumors are formed, spreading to the different areas in the body. The spread of the said cells causes permanent damage to the normal functions to the different organs (2006).            Aside from the fact that cancer is genetically transmitted, the underlying causes of prostate cancer are still undecipherable. The profile of an individual candidate for prostate cancer is usually taken into consideration. Since males are the only ones with prostates, the women are fortunately exempted from acquiring this disease. Race is another factor affected.            The Intercultural Cancer Council website stated that Prostate Cancer affects 37% of African American men (Baylor College of Medicine, 2007). It was also stated that the percentage rate of men afflicted with prostate cancer is relatively higher in Europe and in North America, as compared to Asia, Africa, and South America. Diet is one of the most unrecognizable causes of prostate cancer. Eating of food rich in carcinogens can increase the cancer rate in the body.            According to the National Prostate Coalition website, African American males are afflicted by Prostate Cancer far more than the other types of cancer. In an estimation made by the same website, there were 4,240 prostate cancer deaths in 2007. The chances of genetically acquiring the disease are very big for African Americans. For a close relative afflicted with the disease, the individual has a one out of three chance of acquiring the cancer. For those who have two relatives afflicted with prostate cancer, the chances increase, with an 83% possibility. Worse, if there were three or more members afflicted, the possible acquisition of the disease is 97% (NPCC, 2007). Quite disappointing, but true.            The early stages of prostate cancer inhibit the patient from experiencing and seeing the symptoms. This is primarily due to the fact that these symptoms may also be caused by the presence of other diseases. Such symptoms may include frequent urination, urinary incontinence, presence of blood in the semen and in urine, erection difficulties, and agonizing ejaculation. Presence of at least two of the above mentioned should be enough basis for the patient to consult an oncologist or urologist at the soonest possible time (Marks, 2003).            Biopsy is one of the most reliable tests done in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. With the presence of a Urologist, a tissue sample is harvested from the patient using a needle. The sample is then forwarded to the Pathologist for extensive examination that could lead to the possible detection of prostate cancer. Several other tests are also performed after biopsy that act as the other opinions in proving the presence of cancer cells. Some of the tests include a CT scan, bone scan, and an MRI (Strum, Pogliano, 2005).            With the rampant upgrades in technology, several treatment methods have been available for prostate cancer. According to the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the tumor spread of prostate cancer plays an important role in the type of treatment used (2008). The most common treatments used were Radical Prostatectomy, Radiation Therapy, Cyrotherapy, and Active Surveillance.            One of the used surgeries is Radical Prostatectomy. This process focuses on the extraction of the prostate gland and the nearby tissues from the body. This surgery requires the patient to undergo a general anesthesia, so as to avoid the unbearable pain that can be felt during surgery. As replacement, a catheter is placed through the penis so that urination may be facilitated while the wounds are healing (Blasko, Grim, Sylvester, 2003) .            Undergoing Prostatectomy is one of the most certain treatments for prostate cancer. The removal of the prostate and its nearby tissues inhibits the spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body. This also gives the doctor firsthand information of the results, giving them enough evidence as to whether the cancer will spread or not.            Radiation Therapy on the other hand, does not involve any surgery. Instead, the procedure makes use of x-rays whose energy is high enough to kill cancer cells. For this specific disease, two types can be used. These are the External beam and the Internal. The External beam uses a machine that beams radiation from the outside of the body. The target of the beam is the prostate, making sure that radiation is exposed on the pelvis and in the prostate. The side effects for this treatment include diarrhea, rectal irritation, bleeding and painful urination. Sometimes, this therapy may also cause impotence.            Internal radiation therapy, as compared to the external beam, emits radiation seeds that were implanted on the prostate. These seeds are powerful enough to kill cancer cells, but may be very painful.            Cryotherapy, according to the Prostate Cancer Institute website, is one of the newest therapies discovered in the 1990’s. The treatment utilizes the freezing of the prostate gland, destroying the whole organ, including the cancer cells that may be incorporated in the process. The process requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia, and is over in about two hours. The side effects experienced by the patient are usually treated after a few weeks. These may include urinary incontinence, pains in the pelvis, and swelling in the scrotum (2006).            Active surveillance, on the other hand, is yet the most simple among all treatments. The patient does not undergo a specific treatment, and instead is in close communication with the physician. This process includes regular tests and exams that monitor the health of the patients (2006).            Having to bear the pain of prostate cancer and the thought of actually dealing with the disease is heartbreaking for anyone. The best thing to avoid such heartbreaks is to try and avoid contacting the disease. According to the WebMD website, the consumption of food rich in fiber can be very beneficial in the prevention of the disease. These include the consumption of tomatoes, vegetables, and soy products. In addition to this, researches are being conducted in finding the correct preventive measures of prostate cancer. Some of these researches include the fact that the administration of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps in the protection of men from having prostate cancer. Another is the fact that drinking red wine also helps in the prevention of prostate cancer (July 24, 2006).            Regardless of what the effects of prostate cancer are, what is important is the fact that people, cannot avoid such disease. May they be Caucasians, Asians, or even African Americans; no one is exempted from having such. We all just have to take good care of our bodies, and of our lives. References (24 July 2006). Prostate cancer health center: Prostate Cancer-Prevention. Retrieved March 20,           2008 from http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/tc/prostate-cancer-prevention.            American Academy of Family Physicians. (2008). Prostate Cancer Treatment Options.   Retrieved March 20, 2008 from      http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/treatment/264.html Intercultural Cancer Council. (2007). African Americans & Cancer. Retrieved March 20,           2008 from http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs1.htm Strum, S.B., & Pogliano, D.L. (2005). A primer on prostate cancer: The empowered patient’s    guide. Life Extension Media. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from            http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate Marks, Sheldon. (2003). Prostate and cancer: A family guide to diagnosis, treatment and           survival. Perseus Books Group. Grimm, P., Blasko, J., Sylvester, J. (2003). The prostate cancer treatment book. Contemporary  Books. Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from            http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/default.aspx Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer- Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved March 20,         2008 from http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/risk_factors.aspx Prostate Cancer Institute. (2006). Cryotherapy for Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008  from   http://www.prostate-cancer-institute.org/prostate-cancer–   treatment/cryosurgery.html
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