What does the Gleason score mean?

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What does the Gleason score mean?

When diagnosing prostate cancer, a Gleason score is used to determine how aggressive the cancer is. Before understanding what the Gleason score means, one should know how a Urologist comes up with a Gleason score in the first place. To identify the Gleason score, a Urologist will do a prostate biopsy which involves collecting prostate tissue samples. These prostate tissue samples are then sent to a lab to be analyzed by a pathologist. The pathologist will determine the Gleason score which is made up of two numbers: a primary grade and a secondary grade.

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Treatment for BPH

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Treatment for BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that occurs in men usually over 50 years old and is characterized by an enlarged prostate. As men age, it is natural for the prostate to become enlarge. BPH is a noncancerous growth of the cells within the prostate gland. By age 60, more than half of men have BPH. By age 85, about 90 percent of men have BPH, but only about 30 percent will have symptoms.

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What is percent-free PSA?

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What is percent-free PSA?

PSA stands for prostate specific antigen. It is a protein in the blood and is measured by taking a person’s blood to identify the amount of PSA that is present within the blood. PSA is important to measure once a man gets older because if the level is abnormal, or elevated, it may indicate a number of prostate conditions, including prostate cancer.  

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What is the Gleason score for prostate cancer?

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What is the Gleason score for prostate cancer?

The Gleason score is a system using to grade prostate cancer tissue which is dependent upon how it looks when analyzed under a microscope. The Gleason score ranges from two to ten and is an indicator of how likely it is that the cancer will spread. It also provides the doctor with the necessary information needed to select the most optimal treatment plan for the patient. Similar to staging prostate cancer, grade are given to each prostate cancer case to determine the severity of the disease. A urologist will assign a grade to the prostate cancer after the patient has undergone a prostate biopsy. The tissue samples are sent to a laboratory to be analyzed by a pathologist.

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Staging system for prostate cancer

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Staging system for prostate cancer

In order to stage prostate cancer, a staging system is used called the TNM system. The TNM system is used to describe how far the cancer has spread within the prostate gland or body. The TNM system is based on a few key pieces of information including the T category, which is the extent of the primary tumor, the N category, which determines whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the M category, which is determines the absence or presence of distant metastasis, as well as the PSA level and the Gleason score. 

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External Beam Radiation Therapy for prostate cancer

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External Beam Radiation Therapy for prostate cancer

External Beam Radiation Therapy is a type of treatment that can be used for prostate cancer. This type of treatment works by targeting the prostate gland with beams of radiation. After your prostate has been mapped and your body has been set into place by a fitted mold, shaped beams of radiation are directed at the prostate from several directions which kills the cancer cells. There are two types of radiation that your doctor may use. These include either three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

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Cryosurgery for Prostate Cancer

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Cryosurgery for Prostate Cancer

Cryosurgery for prostate cancer is also known as cryotherapy. It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses extremely cold gas to freeze and destroy the prostate. With cryosurgery for prostate cancer, transrectal ultrasound is used to map and guide needles through the area between the anus and scrotum so that the cold gases can be directed to the prostate.

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Seed implants for prostate cancer

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Seed implants for prostate cancer

Seed implants for treating prostate cancer are also known as brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy. It is a type of radiation treatment that uses radioactive pellets or seeds that are inserted directly into the prostate gland to kill the cancer cells. Short-term hormonal therapy may also be used in combination with brachytherapy to help reduce the size of the tumor.  

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What does an elevated PSA mean?

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What does an elevated PSA mean?

An elevated PSA can mean a number of underlying conditions. Many people often associate an elevated PSA with prostate cancer, but that is not always the case. While prostate cancer is very common among older men, there are other conditions that may be affecting the prostate that could be the reason for developing an elevated PSA. The PSA elevates in the blood as a result of the prostate cells or gland being disrupted in some way. A “normal” PSA level is generally between 1.0 and 4.0 ng/mL.

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Exploring Cyberknife for Prostate Cancer

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Exploring Cyberknife for Prostate Cancer

Cyberknife is an alternative option to treat prostate cancer, as well as many other cancers such as lung, brain, spine, liver and pancreatic cancer. It is not a surgical procedure, but a form of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and robotic-assisted radiosurgery that utilizes a computerized robot to automatically deliver high doses of radiation to the prostate gland. For men with prostate cancer, Cyberknife is recommended for men with cancer limited to the prostate, and men with low to moderate risk prostate cancer. 

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How is Prostate Cancer Treated?

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How is Prostate Cancer Treated?

Active Surveillance/Watchful Waiting. These are not types of treatment, but ways to monitor prostate cancer when it is very low-risk or slow growing. During active surveillance or watchful waiting, your doctor will keep track of the prostate cancer using various tests including a PSA blood test, digital rectal exam, and ultrasound. If the prostate cancer becomes more aggressive, your doctor may recommend other treatment options.

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Treatment options for high PSA

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Treatment options for high PSA

Treatment for a high, or elevated PSA depends on the underlying condition that is causing the PSA to elevate. There are a number of conditions that can cause the PSA to elevate. If you have a high PSA as a result of prostatitis, treatment includes a course of antibiotics. Prostatitis also means a prostate infection, which causes inflammation of the prostate gland. Prostatitis is the most common prostate condition in men younger than 50.  

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