In western countries, pancreatic cancer is very common among men. It affects the gland below the bladder in men. When a man ejaculates this gland creates fluid and mixes with sperm.

In most prostrate tumors, treatment is not required as they grow slowly while tumors that grow quickly spread to the bones, causing severe pain.

- Symptoms of prostrate cancer:
Those affected with prostrate cancer face difficulty or are unable to pass urine. However, some also pass urine frequently especially at night. While urinating they could also experience pain. Blood can also be found in urine of prostrate cancer patients. Pain could be experienced in the lower back, hips and upper thighs.

- Risk factor against Prostrate Cancer:
Prostrate Cancer can be caused if one is exposed to radiation. Hereditary factor too plays an important role in development of this type of cancer. If a person has a family history of prostrate cancer, he is at a higher risk of developing it than others. Since cancer takes time to develop, prostrate cancer too is found in older people as risk of getting it increases with age. Men above 75 years of age account for half of the prostrate cancer patients.

Your risk against this type of cancer can be reduced due to consumption of low-fat diet and foods high in Vitamin E. Consumption of vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower too can reduce one’s chances of developing prostrate cancer. Consumption of 200 microgrammes of selenium per day also lowers the risk against prostate cancer.

- Diagnosis:
Since prostrate cancer can be cured if the diagnosis is done early, all men should go through a regular check-up. Of the ten cases diagnosed early, nine of them were completely cured. If the cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, the maximum treatment can do is to provide some more years to live and stop pain. The treatment done at an advanced stage cannot completely cure the person of the disease. Prostrate Cancer can be diagnosed through biopsy in which a needle is inserted in the prostrate to take out some cells to check whether it is cancerous and the extent of its spread.

- Treatment:
There are four main types of treatment used to cure prostrate cancer

• Prostatectomy : This involves removal of prostrate gland through surgery.
• Radiotherapy : Through this therapy, radiation is given to patients that kills the cancerous cells. In this type of treatment, tumor is destroyed and pain reduced.
• Brachytherapy : In this type of radiotherapy, cancerous cells are killed from inside by inserting radioactive wires into the tumor. Known as internal radiation therapy, it has fewer side effects.
• Hormone therapy : In this therapy, drugs are administered to stop the growth of cancerous cells and shrink them.

- Side Effects:
There are chances of a man becoming impotent after going through a surgery or long-term radiation therapy and Hormone therapy. One could also feel tired and fatigued easily after radiotherapy. Diarrhea and nausea are also common side effects but they are felt only during the treatment. After the treatment is over, they disappear.

In hormone therapy too, a person could feel tired and gain weight but they end once the treatment stops.