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What genetic tests are available for prostate cancer?
GaleEncyofSurgery
Firstly just to outline, prostate cancer means a malignant growth arising in the outer zone of the prostate gland, that is the part of any male human that normally produces secretions that form part of the seminal fluid during ejaculation.
So as with all cancers, the culprit is an abnormal mass of tissue forming in that particular part of your body i.e. cells in that area reproduce at an increased rate and no single gene causes the tumour to develop, but alternations in three types of genes cause tumourigenes, oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and stability genes.
Onagenes are mutated and so that makes the gene active. The Oncogene can be the consequence of chromosomal translocations resulting from gene amplification or intragenic mutation affecting crucial residue which regulates activity of gene product.
So because of this gene activity, the symptoms of prostate cancer may thereby develop sometimes due enlargement of the prostate and so include difficulty in you starting to pass urine, poor flow and increased frequency of visiting toilet and in advanced cases, pain may be caused by involvement of nerves within the pelvis or by spread of cancer to bones anywhere in your body.
Tumour suppressor genes get targeted by genetic alterations, mutations reducing the activity of the gene product due missense mutation at residue that causes a truncated protein from deletion or insertion of various sizes or from epigenetic silencing.
So once diagnosed, treatment for prostate cancer depends on how far it has progressed as a consequence of this gene activity. Treatment may be by prosectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) or radiotherapy involving ionizing radiation passed through the diseased tissue. If the cancer has spread to other parts of your body before it was discovered you may be helped by reducing level of testosterone by surgical removal of the testes or by giving oestrogen drugs which block release of the pituitary hormone that regulates the release of testosterone.
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What kind of genetic tests are available for prostate cancer?
There are no genetic tests to see if you have prostate cancer. It is possible to find out by going to a doctor and having other tests done, however.
Does mri show cancer of the prostate?
An MRI is one of the tests that can be used to show possible abnormalities with the structure of the prostate and surrounding tissues. Further tests such as biopsies would be used to confirm cancer.
Name a risk to the male body involving the prostate gland?
One significant risk to the male body involving the prostate gland is the development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. It is one of the most common cancers in men, particularly in older adults. Risk factors for prostate cancer include: Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, with the majority of cases diagnosed in men over 50 years old. Family history: Men with a family history of prostate cancer, especially with a father or brother, have an increased risk of developing the disease. Ethnicity: African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer compared to men of other ethnicities. Genetic factors: Certain genetic mutations and variations may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Lifestyle factors: Poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking may also contribute to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Regular screening for prostate cancer, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams (DREs), can help detect the disease in its early stages when treatment is most effective. It's essential for men to discuss the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening with their healthcare provider, particularly if they have risk factors for the disease. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer.
What are some of the most common cancer screening tests?
Most common types of cancer screening tests include the following; Imaging Tests like Mammograms, Laboratory Tests like Pap and HPV Testing, and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test.
Do woman get prostate cancer?
Women do not classically get prostate cancer as cancer of the prostate is classified as a disease of the prostate gland of the male reproductive system. However, in 2002 the female Skene's Gland was officially renamed the female prostate as it was found to be homologous in function. Both male and female prostates produce Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and contribute to the ejaculate fluid. Six cases of adenocarcinoma have been observed as originated from the female prostate that strongly resemble that of classical male prostate cancer. Serum tests showed elevated levels of PSA, typical in prostate cancer.
What do higher than normal PSA levels mean?
Elevated PSA levels can mean different things. It can point to a higher risk of cancer of the prostate or it could point to a more benign enlargement of the prostate. It is important to understand that prostate cancer can occur with normal PSA levels present. Your boyfriend should follow up with his physician to do more tests to determine what is causing the elevated PSA levels.
What organ in a male has a high risk of getting cancer?
In males, the prostate gland has one of the highest risks of developing cancer. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men worldwide. Other organs that have a relatively high risk of cancer in males include the lungs, colon and rectum, and bladder. Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland, which is a small walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid, a component of semen. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, and factors such as family history, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits can also influence the risk. Regular screenings, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exams (DREs), can help detect prostate cancer in its early stages when treatment is often most effective. It's important for men to discuss their individual risk factors and screening options with their healthcare providers. Early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with prostate cancer.
What muscular dystrophies can be diagnosed by genetic testing?
Accurate genetic tests are available for DMD, BMD, DM, several forms of LGMD, and EDMD
Where can someone find information on doctors that deal with prostate cancer in the Toronto area?
Information regarding prostate cancer treatment can be found all over the internet. There are several non-profit organisations dedicated to informing the people. The best information though should be obtained through a oncologist.
What Blood test for prostate cancer?
There is no blood test that can act as a true/false for prostate cancer, but PSA (prostate specific antigen) can be measured to screen for it.
Prostate cancer staging?
IntroductionStaging is a term that is used to describe if a cancer has spread from where it first began. Prostate cancer staging is commonly described as:Localized prostate cancer: the cancer is contained within the prostate gland and has not spread nearby tissues or elsewhere in the body.Locally advanced prostate cancer: the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland to surrounding tissue, most often the seminal vesicles.Advanced prostate cancer: the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, bones, or elsewhere in the body.How Is Staging Done?Most of the time, tests such as an MRI scan or a CT scan are not very good at telling your doctor how much prostate cancer is present or whether it has spread.Rarely, your doctor can feel a prostate cancer during a rectal exam. Sometimes a test called a bone scan will be done to see if the cancer has spread to your bones (a common place for the cancer to go).However, your doctor will also use other information, to help guide treatment and follow-up and give you some idea of what to expect in the future. Other information includes:PSA levels (and related tests)Prostate biopsy results may be able to show how many areas of the prostate gland has cancer.The Gleason score or grade, which comes from the results of your prostate biopsy, tells how aggressive the prostate cancer might be. Two areas of the tumor are graded on a scale of 1 – 5. The sum of the two grades is the overall Gleason score. This tells your doctor information about how different the prostate cancer cells are from normal tissue. The higher the score, the more different the cancer cells are from normal, and therefore, the more aggressive the cancer isHow Is Staging Used?It is important to understand that only if and when you have surgery to remove the prostate gland can you and your doctor know for certain what the stage of your prostate cancer is.However, using your symptoms, physical exam, and results of tests described just above, your doctors will often have a pretty good idea which stage of prostate cancer you have.ReferencesAntonarakis ES, Eisenberger MA. Expanding treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2011 May 26;364(21):2055-8.Wilt TJ, MacDonald R, et al. Systematic review: comparative effectiveness and harms of treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148(6):435-448.Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Last Modified: 06/01/2011Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/27/2011Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Chief of Urology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Visiting Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
What prostate cancer tests are currently available and what is their accuracy?
Digital Rectal exam; blood test for PSA level; transrectal biopsy. Only the biopsy can tell for sure if cancer is present. And it is not 100% accurate as the biopsy needle may miss the cancer on the first sampling. The test may need to be done again a few months down the road.
