What Is Individualized Prostate Cancer Care? - Maximed Turkey
What Is Individualized Prostate Cancer Care?
All men with prostate cancer need to be aware of how
they can take charge of their care. A treatment plan that has been developed
with the patient in mind will usually provide better results than one developed
without involvement from the patient.
A recent study suggests, "Patient involvement
leads to improved quality of life and greater satisfaction with care, as well
as significantly lower costs associated with care" (Schmidt et al., 2015).
This is because by taking responsibility for their
health and treatment decisions, patients may be more invested in managing their
symptoms and following through on recommended therapies and services.
It is important to recognize that having a family
doctor or other provider that has been trained to handle prostate cancer and
has an established relationship with the patient may be preferable.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the
bladder and around the base of the penis. The gland produces semen, as well as
other products such as fluid that lubricates and protects sperm. It also
produces enzymes such as prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) which helps the body
break down the amino acids lysine and arginine to produce hormones. Prostate
cancerous cells, however, can grow along arteries supplying blood into the
prostate and can invade them, forming nodes or tumors.
How Does Prostate Cancer Develop?
If the cancer is caught early enough, it is more likely
to be treatable. However, many men with prostate cancer are not diagnosed until
it has reached an advanced stage of spread, and this usually means that there
is no cure or effective treatment.
The male reproductive system itself does not cause
prostate cancer. But the condition may be caused by diseases like BPH (benign
prostatic hyperplasia), which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate
gland. These conditions make it more likely for prostate cancers to develop;
BPH can increase your risk of developing certain types of prostate cancer by
50%.
Examples of Individualized Prostate Cancer Care
The following are a few examples of how a
multidisciplinary team approach using a comprehensive cancer care model, can be
beneficial to an individualized plan for prostate cancer treatment.
1. Start by Having A Consultation with Your Doctor
A discussion about your health history and the type of
care you want will help your doctor design a treatment plan that is completely
tailored to your needs. Your doctor may recommend more frequent follow-ups and
possibly biopsies or other tests. These routine tests can save lives and
provide early diagnosis of prostate cancer when it may be treatable while
saving thousands of dollars in unnecessary testing, biopsy, and surgery
procedures not required by some patients.
2. Build A Comprehensive Cancer Care Team
A team of physicians, including specialists in urology,
advanced oncology, and radiology, can coordinate your care for prostate cancers
also known as metastatic cancers. A urologist examines the prostate and takes
samples to determine if there are any potential problems. An oncologist can
work with other specialists in the field to determine an appropriate treatment
plan. And a radiation oncologist will recommend treatment plans that include
radiation or surgery.
3. Keep Empathetic Workers Close By
Sometimes the unknowns about cancer cause patients
anxiety and fear, so asking your loved ones to help you cope with your
diagnosis is always appreciated. A social worker can offer advice about
financial and work-related issues, and a pastoral counsellor can help you and
your family deal with emotions and questions about your illness.
4. Maintain Your Comfort Level With An Effective Plan of Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer,
one of the most important things you can do is find an active way of coping
with the disease so that it does not affect your quality of life. To do this,
you need to always understand your treatment plan, ask questions if there are
any uncertainties, stay involved in making decisions about it and integrate
your treatment into a schedule that works for you. This helps prevent fear from
controlling your development as a person.
Frequently Asked Questions on Individualized Prostate Cancer Care
Can I Prevent Prostate Cancer?
At this time, there is no clear evidence on how to
prevent prostate cancer. Some suggestions have not been confirmed on how to
reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. These include avoiding eating
foods with high fat or total fat content, avoiding cocoa products because of
the amount of caffeine they contain, limiting your alcohol intake, avoid
consuming citrus fruits and juices if you are African American due to higher
susceptibility to developing prostate cancer or undergoing regular physical
activity.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer?
Many common symptoms are non-specific and can be
attributed to benign conditions such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). The
most common symptoms that can be an indicator of prostate cancer are described
below.
·
Unexplained weight change
·
An unusual weight change, especially following a
rapid increase in body weight.
·
Difficulty passing urine, urgent need to pass
urine, blood in the urine, or pain on passing urine
· Frequent weak or weak stream of urine caused by obstruction or obstruction of the urethra (the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body)
Any new symptom should be reported to a doctor
immediately. The Doctor will examine your body and may order various tests,
such as blood tests and scans (x-rays).
