Symptoms:

Prostate cancer usually affects men older than 50 years old. Majority of prostate cancer patients, especially in the early stages, have no symptoms and do not have urinary problems.

In fact, the first possible suspicion of prostate cancer is an abnormal blood test called total prostate specific antigen (total PSA).

Some patients may have urinary symptoms from enlarged prostate. It is important to check with your doctor on whether prostate cancer is also present in the prostate gland at the same time.

When prostate cancer does cause symptoms or signs, it is usually diagnosed in a later stage. These symptoms and signs may include:

• Frequent urination
• Weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder
• The urge to urinate frequently at night
• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the seminal fluid
• New onset of erectile dysfunction
• Pain or burning during urination, which is much less common
• Discomfort or pain when sitting, caused by an enlarged prostate
• Sometimes men with prostate cancer do not experience any of these changes. Non-cancerous conditions of the prostate, such as BPH (Benign prostatic hyperplasia) or an enlarged prostate, can cause similar symptoms. The cause of a symptom may be a different medical condition that is not cancer. Urinary symptoms also can be caused by an infection of the bladder or other conditions.

If cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland, a man may experience:

• Pain in the back, hips, thighs, shoulders, or other bones
• Swelling or fluid buildup in the legs or feet
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Change in bowel habits
• If you experience any of these symptoms, contact our doctor now for an appointment.
• Investigations for Prostate Cancer

Total PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

Blood test to check possible prostate cancer. Please noted that total PSA can be high in different prostate diseases, including infection or enlargement in size.

MRI prostate scan

Determines the internal structure of prostate to look for suspicious prostate lesions.

Prostate biopsy

Takes some prostate tissues to check under microscope to look for abnormal or cancer cells.
Treatments for Prostate Cancer

Active surveillance

Prostate cancers that are considered low-risk and not aggressive may not need to do surgery or radiotherapy immediately. We can closely monitor the nature of the cancer and reduce unnecessary side effects from aggressive treatments.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

The entire prostate gland can be removed by surgery with the use of daVinci Robotic operating system.

Radiotherapy

Prostate cancer cells can be killed with radiotherapy, which can be given from outside the body or from internally within the prostate.

Focal therapy

Treats only the areas with significant prostate cancer, and not the entire prostate gland.

This reduces urine leak, decreases erectile dysfunction, and avoids unnecessary damage to surrounding areas. Examples include high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) of prostate cancer.

Hormone therapy

Used in locally advanced prostate cancer, or patients with metastases having distant cancer spread. It reduces one source of the food supply of prostate cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Used in patients with metastases having distant cancer spread.