Active Surveillance (with delayed intervention)
Depending upon the size of cancer, tumor grade, your age and general health, your urologist will discuss with you whether treatment should be postponed. You will have regular PSA blood tests and Digital Rectal Exams (DRE) to determine if a repeat biopsy is required. Treatment can be given if the cancer is progressing.
Adjuvant Therapy Treatment given in addition to the main treatment in order to destroy any cancer cells that may remain following the initial therapy.
Age-specific PSA reference range A PSA range that is designed to compare the results of men in the same age group.
Alkaline Phosphatase An enzyme made by cells in the bones and liver. Levels of alkaline phosphatase in the blood often go up in men whose prostate cancer has spread to the bones or liver.
Androgen Any hormone that produces male physical characteristics such as facial hair, deep voice). The main androgen hormone is testosterone.
Anesthetic A drug that causes a loss of sensation or feeling of numbness usually used during surgical procedures.
Antiandrogens Drugs that block the body's ability to use androgens.
Antibody A protein produced by immune system cells and released into the blood to defend against foreign agents, such as bacteria.
Atypical Not usual: abnormal. Often refers to the appearance of cancerous or precancerous cells.
Anticancer drug A drug that attacks cancer cells.
Anus The opening at the lower end of the rectum through which solid body waste is eliminated.
Artificial Sphincter Prosthesis or artificial device sometimes used to treat incontinence after prostate surgery.
Benign Non cancerous. A term used for a tumor that is generally not life threatening and does not spread to other parts of the body.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) A noncancerous enlargement of the prostate.
Bilateral extracapsular extension The tumor has spread outside the prostate capsule on both sides.
Biopsy The removal of a sample of tissue to see whether cancer cells are present.
Bladder The hollow organ that stores urine.
Bone Scan An imaging method that gives information about the location of cancer that may have spread to the bones.
Brachytherapy Internal radiation treatment given by placing radioactive material directly into the tumor or near it.
Cancer A tumor with abnormal cells that grow and divide without control.
Capsule A layer of cells surrounding an organ such as the prostate.
Carcinoma Most common form of cancer characterized by the growth of a malignant tumor in surface tissues of an organ or on the skin. Prostate cancer is a form of carcinoma.
Catheter (urinary) A thin, flexible tube through which fluids enter or leave the body: e.g. a tube to drain urine.
Castration Removal of the testes; surgical castration is also called orchiectomy.
Cell The basic structural and functional units of the body.
Chemotherapy Treatment for cancer with drugs that destroy certain types of cancer cells.
Clinical Trials Studies conducted on patients, usually to evaluate a new or investigational treatment.
Combined Androgen Blockade Hormonal therapy that involves combining an antiandrogen drug with an LHRH analog or orchiectomy.
Conformal proton beam radiation Similar to 3-dimensinal conformal radiation therapy except using protons to produce the radiation.
Cyrotherapy Repeated freezing and thawing of the tumor cells that result in cell death.
Cystoscopy Examination of the bladder with an instrument called a cystoscope.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) An examination performed by a physician in which a gloved, lubricated finger is inserted into the rectum to feel the prostate.
Downsizing Decrease in the size of the tumor, also called volume reduction.
Early Detection The disease is found at an early stage, before it has grown large or spread to other sites.
Ejaculate To eject sperm and seminal fluid from the penis.
Estrogen One of the most important sex hormones contributing to development of female sexual characteristics. Large amounts are produced in the female ovaries, far lesser amounts in male testicles.
External Beam Radiation Radiation therapy that uses rays from a source outside the body.
Foley Catheter Named for the inventor. A catheter with a balloon at the end inserted into the body. The balloon holds the catheter in place. A foley is usually inserted through the penis to drain urine after prostate surgery.
Gleason Grade The system used most often to grade prostate cancer. This system assigns a Gleason grade ranging form 1 through 5 based on how much the arrangement of the cancer cells looks like the way normal prostate cells are arranged. Two grades are assigned to the most common patterns of cells that appear; these two grades are then added together to determine the Gleason score, on a scale of 2 to 10.
Gleason Score A method of classifying prostate cancer cells on a scale of 2 to 10. The higher the Gleason score (also called a Gleason sum) the faster the cancer is likely fo grow and the more likely it is to spread beyond the prostate.
Gynecomastia Enlargement of the breast in males.
Hematospermia Blood in the seminal fluid, often caused by a prostate infection.
Hormone A chemical substance released into the body by the endocrine glands and traveling through the bloodstream which sets in motion various body functions.
Hormone Therapy Treatment with hormones, drugs to interfere with hormone production, or action or the surgical removal of hormone producing glands.
Hot Flash Sudden rush of body heat causing reddening and sweating; a common side effect of some types of hormone therapy.
Hyperplasia Too much benign growth of cells or tissue in a specific area, such as the lining of the prostate.
Impotence Inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
Incontinence Loss of urinary control.
Intensity Modulated radiation Therapy (IMRT) A from of external beam radiation therapy that uses computed tomography to create a 3-D picture of the prostate and surrounding organs so radiation rays can be delivered only to the prostate gland.
Investigational Therapy Therapies that are in the process of being evaluated for use to treat a disease or condition.
Laparoscopic Lymph Node Dissection Test procedure using a device called a laparoscope that involves the removal of tissue through small incisions for later examination of possibly cancerour lymph nodes.
Leuteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus. LHRH stimulates the secretion of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary gland.
LHRH Analogs Man made hormones, chemically similar to LHRH. They block production of the male hormone.
Libido Sex drive.
Lymph A nearly clear fluid collected fro tissues around the body and returned to the blood by the lymphatic system. Lymph drains waste from cells.
Lymphadenectomy Surgical removal of lymph nodes.
Lymph Nodes Small bean shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes also called lymph glands filter out or remove waste protecting the body from infection.
Malignant Cancerous.
Metastasis The spread of cancer cells from its primary site to other areas of the body through the lymph or blood systems.
Neoadjuvant Therapy that is given before local treatment in order to improve the success and results of the primary treatment.
Nerve-Sparing Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy Surgical removal of the prostate, through an incision in the lower abdomen, in which the nerves on either side of the prostate are left alone.
Oncologist A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
Orchiectomy Surgery to remove the testicles; castration.
Palliative Treatmen Therapy that is intended to provide relief of symptoms but is not intended to cure a disease or extend life.
Pathologist A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of disease.
Penile Implant Prosthesis or artificial device used to treat impotence.
Perineum The area between the scrotum and the anus.
Pituitary Gland A gland located at the base of the brain. It produces hormones stimulating the release of other hormones
Primary Cancer Cancer that originates on its own at a specific site in the body, rather than having spread there from another site.
Primary Treatment The first and usually the most important treatment.
Prognosis A prediction of the course of disease.
Prostascint Scan The prostascint scan uses low level radioactive material to find cancer that has spread beyond the prostate.
Prostate Gland A spherical gland below the bladder about the size of a walnut that secretes part of the seminal fluid.
Prostatecomy The surgical removal of the prostate gland.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) A protein made by the prostate gland. Levels of PSA in the blood often go up in men with prostate cancer. The PSA test is used to help find prostate cancer as well as to monitor the results of treatment.
Prostate Specific Antigen Density (PSAD) Determined by dividing the PSA number by the prostate volume or size.
Prostate Specific Antigen Velocity (PSAV) Measures how quickly the PSA levels rise over a period of time.
Prostatitis Inflammation of the prostate.
Radiation Therapy Treatment with high energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells.
Radical Prostatectomy Surgery to remove the entire prostate gland, the seminal vesicles and nearby tissue.
Rectum Lower part of the large intestine leading to the anus.
Recurrence Cancer that has returned after treatment.
Refractory Condition referring to a disease that can no longer be controlled by the treatment program in effect.
Remission Complete of partial disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer after treatment.
Salvage Therapy Treatment given to patients whose cancer has recurred.
Screening The search for disease, such as cancer, in people without symptoms.
Scrotum Pouch of skin that holds the testicles.
Seeds Radioactive pellets implanted in the prostate to destroy cancerous growth.
Seme Fluid released during sexual climax containing sperm and seminal fluid.
Seminal Vesicles Pouches located above the prostate that store semen.
Sperm Mature male sex cell.
Stage A term used to describe the size and extent of the spread of cancer.
Testicles The male reproductive glands found in the scrotum. The testicles (or testes) produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.
Testosterone The main male hormone made primarily in the testes. Testosterone stimulates a man's sexual activity and the growth of other sex organs including the prostate.
Three Dimensional Conformal Therapy The use of sophisticated computers and body mold to precisely map the location of the prostate.
Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) The use of sound waves to create a picture of the prostate.
Transurethral Hyperthermia (TH) Treatment for benign prostate enlargement; heat generated by a microwave transmitter to alleviate urinary obstruction.
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) This operation removes part of the prostate gland that surrounds the urethra to relieve obstruction benign or malignant.
Tumour Excessive growth of cells resulting in a lump or mass of tissue either cancerous or noncancerous.
Urethra The tube running through the penis to the outside of the body.
Urologist A doctor who specializes in disease of the male sex organs and in diseases of the urinary organs in both men and women.
Vas Deferens One of two muscular tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra.
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