Sammy Vick, MD | San Antonio TX Sammy Vick, MD | San Antonio TX

(210) 616-0410 Request Appointment

Prostate Cancer Specialist in San Antonio, TX

The prostate is a gland that is only found in men that is used to assist in reproduction and sperm cell growth and production. It grows during puberty due to the rapid increase in male hormones and can sometimes slightly grow with age, but mostly stays about the size of a walnut.

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Prostate Cancer Overview

The most common type of prostate cancer is adenocarcinoma, which is cancer that starts in the gland cells. There are other, more rare types of prostate cancer such as small cell carcinoma, sarcomas, and neuroendocrine tumors, but most of the time a prostate cancer patient suffers from adenocarcinoma.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men. Approximately 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. Luckily, 5-year survival of prostate cancer is up to over 99% and deaths have reduced greatly due to overall awareness and advancements in treatment.

Prostate Cancer Signs and Diagnosis

Many patients don’t experience any symptoms, especially in early stages. More severe prostate cancer patients can experience:

  • Blood in the Urine
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Pain in the Spine or Hips

Some of these symptoms can also just be symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), so it’s really hard to detect. Therefore, it’s extremely important to get screened by either digital rectal exam (DRE) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

PSA – This method is usually for men in early stages without symptoms and is the first test done most of the time.

DRE – In this method, Dr. Vick will probe for lumps on the prostate with a lubricated glove. If you do have prostate cancer, this way is good to detect which side the cancer may be on, rather than just knowing whether you have cancer or not.

There are a few other less common ways to diagnose prostate cancer, so check with Dr. Vick to see what might be appropriate for your case.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

The following risk factors can increase your chances of getting prostate cancer:

  • Age: Prostate cancer is most common in men after the age of 50, and 60% of cases are men over the age of 65. There’s not a lot of reason to get examined before the age of 40-50.
  • Race: Prostate cancer is more prominent in African Americans.
  • Family History: Some evidence suggests that prostate cancer may be a genetic factor and inherited. Having a direct relative with prostate cancer increases your risk.
  • Diet: It’s not a definitive factor, but some studies link men who eat a lot of red meat and high-dairy products and eat fewer fruits and vegetables have more of a risk to develop prostate cancer.

Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

Once you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is important to work closely with Dr. Vick to go over your case and discuss the best treatment option for you. Some of those include:

  • Active surveillance to monitor the cancer growth or lack thereof.
  • Surgery to remove the cancerous cells.
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Cryotherapy for early stages
  • Vaccine Treatment
  • Bone-directed for cases where the cancer has spread to the bones.

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Treatment is done entirely on a case-by-case basis. Consult with Dr. Vick after you’re diagnosed to discuss what the best option may be. Prostate cancer can be easily treatable if detected early and avoided altogether if the right precautions are taking. Visit www.cancer.org for specific information on prostate cancer prevention or treatment.

If you have any questions regarding prostate cancer, consult Dr. Sammy Vick by calling (210) 616-0410.