Cancer Training
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The term "cancer" refers to a condition in which the regulation of cell growth is lost and cells grow uncontrollably. Most cells in the body are constantly dividing, maturing and then dying in a tightly controlled process. Unlike normal cells, the growth of cancer cells is no longer well regulated. Instead of dying, as they should, cancer cells outlive normal cells and continue to form new, abnormal cells. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer and are rarely life threatening. Malignant tumors are cancer, and may be life threatening. Malignant prostate cancer tumors can often be removed, but they may grow back.
The term "primary tumor" refers to the original tumor; secondary tumors are caused when the original cancer spreads to other locations in the body. Prostate cancer typically is comprised of multiple very small, primary tumors within the prostate. At this stage, the disease is often curable (rates of 90 percent or better) with standard interventions such as surgery or radiation that aim to remove or kill all cancerous cells in the prostate. Unfortunately, at this stage the cancer produces few or no symptoms and can be difficult to detect.
Cancer, much like cancers in the 1970's, is still not considered a comfortable subject for conversation. U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Kerry are both survivors of prostate cancer. Their openness about their surgery, along with former Secretary of State Colin Powell, professional golfer Arnold Palmer, Retired General Norman Schwarzkopf, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and others, have helped inform men and their families of treatment options.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men. Prostate cancer is second. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only Prostate cancer. While one man in six will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 33 will die of this disease. The death rate for prostate cancer is going down, and the disease is being found earlier as well.
When a patient learns that they have cancer, they usually have many questions about what cancer is and how the disease can be treated. It is also normal for patients with cancer, their families, and others close to them to have fears and concerns. Most patients and those who care about them find that their distress eases as cancer treatment begins and as they gain an understanding of the disease.
Most of the time, cancer grows slowly. Autopsy studies show that many older men who died of other diseases also had cancer that neither they nor their doctor were aware of. But sometimes cancer can grow and spread quickly. Even with the latest methods, it is hard to tell which cancers will grow slowly and which will grow quickly.
If untreated and allowed to grow, the cells from these tumors can spread in a process called metastasis. In this process, cancer cells are transported through the lymphatic system and the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where they lodge and grow secondary tumors. Once the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, cure rates drop dramatically.
No one knows the exact causes of cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one patient develops the disease and another does not. Symptoms of cancer include urinary problems, and frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. If a patient has symptoms or test results that suggest cancer, his doctor asks about his personal and 4 doctor are recommended for anyone concerned about cancer.
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