Understanding Prostate Cancer and modern hormone therapies: what patients and caregivers should know
Prostate cancer begins in the prostate, a small gland beneath the bladder that produces seminal fluid. For many men it is a slow-growing disease that may never cause symptoms; for others it can spread (metastasize) beyond the prostate and become life-threatening. Because outcomes and treatment choices vary widely, clear patient education about how prostate cancer behaves, what to watch for, and how modern therapies fit into care is essential. Early signs and symptoms Early-stage prostate cancer often produces no symptoms and is commonly found through screening tests or incidentally during examinations. When symptoms do appear, they usually involve urinary changes that can be mistaken for benign conditions such as an enlarged prostate (BPH). Common early complaints include a weak urine stream, urgency or frequency (especially at night), difficulty starting or stopping urination, and occasional blood in the urine or semen. Because these signs overlap with noncancerous problems, med...