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Urologist Nicholas Franco MD Highlights 10 Early Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer Urging Early Detection And Treatment

(MENAFN- Zex PR Wire) Michigan , US, 27th April 2024, ZEX PR WIRE , Dr. Nicholas Franco, a retired prior board-certified urologist, is raising awareness about the early warning signs of prostate cancer, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection and intervention. Dr. Nicholas Franco was both a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow of the Royal college of Surgeons of Canada. With prostate cancer being one of the most prevalent forms of cancer among men, Dr. Franco says, understanding the symptoms and seeking timely medical evaluation can significantly improve outcomes and save lives.

Prostate cancer, Dr. Franco says, often develops without causing noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making regular screenings crucial for early detection. However, he notes, certain signs and symptoms may indicate the presence of prostate cancer and warrant further evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. In helping men get help early, Dr. Nicholas Franco highlights the following 10 early warning signs of prostate cancer:

In the lead on the signs to look out for is urinary changes. According to Dr. Franco, changes in urinary habits, such as increased frequency of urination, difficulty initiating or maintaining urination, weak urine flow, or the sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder may indicate prostate cancer. These symptoms, he adds, often arise due to the enlargement of the prostate gland or the presence of tumors pressing on the urethra.

Another early symptom that Dr. Franco points out is blood in urine or semen: The presence of blood in the urine or semen, known as hematuria or hematospermia, respectively, Dr. Nicholas Franco says, should prompt immediate medical attention. While these symptoms may stem from various conditions, including infections or trauma, Dr. Franco adds, they can also signify the presence of prostate cancer and should not be ignored.

Dr. Franco also points to Erectile Dysfunction as an early sign of prostate cancer. While erectile dysfunction can arise from numerous factors, including age and underlying health conditions, Dr. Franco says that, it may also serve as an early warning sign of prostate cancer. Tumors affecting the nerves and blood vessels responsible for erectile function, he says, can lead to difficulties achieving or maintaining an erection.Pain or discomfort is another early warning sign that Dr. Franco points out for prostate cancer. Persistent pain or discomfort in the pelvic area, lower back, hips, or thighs, he says, may indicate the spread of prostate cancer to nearby tissues and bones. These symptoms, he says, often arise in advanced stages of the disease and should prompt immediate medical evaluation.

Dr. Franco also points to difficulty with bowel movements as a reason to seek medical attention. Prostate cancer, he says, can exert pressure on the rectum, leading to changes in bowel habits such as constipation, diarrhea, or difficulty in passing stool. Any unexplained changes in bowel movements, Dr. Franco states, should be promptly discussed with a healthcare provider.

The other key indicator to prostate cancer according to Dr. Franco is unexplained weight loss: Sudden and unexplained weight loss, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, he says, may signal the presence of advanced prostate cancer. Cancer-induced weight loss, Dr. Franco says, can result from metabolic changes, decreased appetite, or the body's response to the presence of tumors.

Dr. Franco also points to fatigue and weakness as a reason to do a checkup. Prostate cancer, he says, can cause fatigue and weakness due to the body's immune response to the disease, as well as metabolic changes and anemia associated with cancer progression. Persistent fatigue that interferes with daily activities, he says, warrants medical evaluation.Swelling in the legs or pelvic area is another early indicator that Dr. Franco says should not be ignored, especially by older men: Advanced prostate cancer, he says, may cause swelling in the legs or pelvic area due to the accumulation of fluid or lymphedema. This swelling, known as edema, Dr. Nicholas Franco adds, may be accompanied by discomfort or a feeling of heaviness in the affected area.Additionally, Dr. Franco urges men to be on the lookout for bone pain. Prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, a condition known as metastatic prostate cancer, he says, often causes bone pain. This pain may be localized or widespread and can significantly impact mobility and quality of life.

Lastly, Dr. Nicholas Franco urges men to look out for numbness or weakness in the legs: Pressure on the spinal cord or nerves caused by advanced prostate cancer, he says, can lead to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs. These neurological symptoms, Dr. Franco adds, require immediate medical attention to prevent further complications.Dr. Nicholas Franco emphasizes the importance of recognizing these early warning signs and promptly seeking medical evaluation if any symptoms arise."Early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes in prostate cancer," Dr. Franco asserts."By being vigilant about these warning signs and undergoing regular screenings, men can take proactive steps to safeguard their health and well-being."

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Initial Quality Of Life Decreases After Radiation In Prostate Cancer

Treatment with a certain radiation therapy worsens quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. An expert explains ways to mitigate side effects.

Urinary and bowel functioning are side experienced after IMRT in patients with prostate cancer, an expert told CURE®.

Patients with prostate cancer who receive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may experience a decrease in quality of life for the first six months after treatment. However, many side effects tend to subside months later, according to an expert and recent study.

A study from Current Oncology included 391 patients with prostate cancer who were treated with IMRT. Examining patients' quality of life after finishing treatment was the purpose of the study.

The researchers determined that there was a significant decrease in quality of life right after treatment finished. Signs of worsening were seen in global health, physical, role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhea and pain, the study noted.

Of note, patients recovered from these aspects within six months, except for physical functioning, the researchers stated. However, at five years, researchers found that patients typically had worsening physical functioning.

When patients experience impairment after IMRT, they may also have a deterioration in health-related quality of life, the researchers said.

"Generally, radiation therapy will cause some impact on urinary and bowel function and can also cause some fatigue," Dr. Arun Goel told CURE®. Goel is chief of genitourinary services in radiation oncology and assistant professor of clinical radiation oncology at Penn Medicine.

Goel explained that quality of life is evaluated through answers from surveys and questionnaires. Doctors gain "a better understanding" of patients' experiences regarding treatments and how it affects their physical or social functioning.

According to the Mayo Clinic, IMRT is a type of radiation therapy that uses beams of powerful energy to destroy cancer cells. What sets it apart from regular radiation therapy is its customized beams, which match the shape of the cancer. The intensity varies among each beam and is precisely controlled when delivered, the institution noted.

IMRT and Quality of Life in Patients With Prostate Cancer

Possible reasons for a temporary decrease in quality of life may be caused by traveling and worsened functioning, Goel said. "Going back and forth from a department for a number of weeks can probably lead to some fatigue."

Worsening in urinary and bowel function, Goel explained, could also be a main contributor to a decrease in quality of life.

"It's the combination of these side effects that uproot temporarily some day-to-day routines that lead to a reduction in quality of life. [The quality of life improves] once the treatments are done, side effects resolve and people [return] to their normal rhythm or role."

READ MORE: 'Paths' of Treatment Possibilities in Prostate Cancer

"What we generally see with IMRT quality of life studies is that there's some reduction in urinary and bowel quality of life at the end of treatment," he said. "These can translate into reductions in quality of life when it comes to these social functions. But thankfully, these reductions are generally pretty small. By six months, quality of life is improving back to baseline."

Side effects and quality of life "go hand in hand," Goel said. Patients who receive IMRT may mostly experience side effects related to urinary and bowel functions.

"Inflammation of the bladder and to the urethra can lead to increased urinary frequency, some urinary urgency, a weakening of the urinary stream or even some burning with urination," he noted. "It's important to say that these side effects are generally in the mild category and temporary, meaning that they can be managed with either lifestyle modifications, routine over-the-counter prescription medications. They should resolve within eight to 12 weeks after radiation therapy is completed."

Advice for Patients With Prostate Cancer Receiving IMRT

It's important for patients with prostate cancer to "stay ahead of things" after receiving IMRT, Goel said.

He emphasized that patients should speak with their nurses and doctors to continue mitigating side effects during treatment. Specifically, patients informing their care teams about bowel and urinary functioning early can help slow down these side effects.

"For certain patients, we may start medications called alpha-adrenergic blockers prophylactically," Goel said. "So those are medications like [Flomax (tamsulosin)] or [Rapaflo (silodosin)] to relax to musculature of the bladder neck, they relax the musculature of the urethra to make it easier to empty the bladder."

He also explained that other options can also help patients with side effects.

"There are both gels as well as balloons that can be inserted as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia or mild sedation, that pushes the prostate away from the rectum, reduces rectal dose and seem to reduce the risk of having chronic rectal side effects," Goel said. "So certainly, reducing those risks should translate to improvements in quality of life."

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don't forget to subscribe to CURE®'s newsletters here.

'Groundbreaking' DNA Tests Could 'spot Men Most Likely To Fall Victim To Under-the-radar Prostate Cancer'

SCIENTISTS are developing a DNA test to tell if a man's prostate cancer will come back.

Patients who are at genetic risk of tumour cells flying under the radar and surviving radiotherapy could get extra treatment to make sure they are all wiped out.

Scientists can spot if a man is likely to have his prostate cancer return from his DNACredit: Getty

Current scans often cannot see the cells as they hide in tiny glands – but a man's genes could give them away.

Dr Jane Shortall, of the University of Manchester, said: "We've found that a man's DNA can affect the likelihood of whether his cancer will spread to where it can evade radiotherapy.

"Armed with this knowledge, we're working out for the first time how to identify these men so we can adjust their treatment.

"We're also looking at how to spot the early signs of cancer returning in follow-up scans so it can be treated again as quickly and as successfully as possible."

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