Here's the basics you should know about prostate cancer
Prostate Cancer is the
MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCER
among Canadian men
The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age.
Most of the time it happens after age 50
The bottom line is that
anyone with a prostate can develop prostate cancer
Factors that increase your risk of having prostate cancer
Being Black
Having a family member, especially a father or brother, with prostate cancer
SYMPTOMS OF PROSTATE CANCER
There are often no symptoms of prostate cancer
especially in its early stages. As the cancer grows, some people may:
Have problems peeing
Find blood in the pee or semen
Experience painful ejaculation
If cancer spreads outside the prostate, symptoms can include:
Bone pain
Weight loss
Kidney problems
When prostate cancer is caught early
5-year survival is close to 100%
TESTS TO DIAGNOSE & MONITOR
PROSTATE CANCER
Test results will answer these questions...
What is my prostate risk?
Do I have prostate cancer?
Has the cancer
come back after treatment?
Tests Available
BIOMARKER TESTING
A biomarker is a biological molecule found in our bodies that can tell us if something is normal or not. Biomarker tests are not invasive and will use urine to determine your risk of aggressive prostate cancer
TRANSPERINEAL
PROSTATE BIOPSY
A needle takes small samples of tissue from the prostate to look for cancer cells. Compared to traditional prostate biopsies, our needles go through the perineum instead of the rectum to prevent infection and improve precision. A biopsy is the only way to confirm if it is a prostate cancer
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN TEST (PSA)
The PSA test helps detect prostate cancer. It is also used to show how well your treatment is working or if the cancer is growing
WHAT IS THE PROSTATE?
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system
Its job is to help form semen by producing fluid that mixes with sperm
CANCEROUS TUMOR
NORMAL CELLS
Prostate cancer happens when normal cells in the prostate grow faster or die more slowly than usual. This can lead to a cancerous tumour over time.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEST RESULTS
The grade and stage of the tumour will help you & your healthcare team decide which treatment is best for you.
TUMOUR GRADE
The grade describes how quickly the cancer is growing and the chance of it spreading. The most common grading system is the Gleason Classification System.
It is based on the patterns of the cancer cells and how different they look compared to normal prostate cells.
Biopsy samples are examined under a microscope and each sample is given a grade of 1 to 5. The lower the grade, the more cancer cells look, act and are arranged like normal cells.
GLEASON SCORE
Slow growing, less likely to spread
Growing at a moderate pace, may spread
Growing quickly, more likely to spread
The overall Gleason score is calculated by adding the 2 most common grades in the samples (e.g. 3+4=7).
HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER TREATED?
The stage and grade of the tumour, your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results and your overall health
are key in deciding what treatments are best.
If you have a slow-growing and early stage prostate cancer, you may choose a monitoring strategy like active surveillance instead of other treatments.
For more detailed information about Prostate Cancer
We offer a central location north of Toronto, conveniently located near Hwy 7 and Hwy 404 in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Treatments and consultations are performed on an outpatient basis in a new private, modern clinic setting with easy-to-access free underground/ surface parking with direct access by VIVA public transit or car. We are adjacent to hotel facilities (Sheraton Parkway Toronto, Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott, and Hilton Garden Inn) for our out-of-town patients and their families.
Our center is also fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.