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Adrenal (Suprarenal) Gland
A flattened, roughly triangular body resting upon the upper end of each kidney.
Androgen
Male hormones, including testosterone.
Antiandrogens
Drugs that block the body's ability to use androgens.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Enlargement of the prostate. BPH is not cancer, but it can cause some of the same symptoms.
Benign Tumor
A noncancerous tumor.
Biopsy
Process of removing tissue sample for diagnostic examination.
Brachytherapy
Internal radiation treatment given by placing radioactive material directly into the prostate gland. Also called interstitial radiation therapy or seed implantation.
CT (Computed Tomography) or CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) Scan
A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
Chemotherapy
Treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for any abnormalities. Some tumors of the rectum and prostate gland can be felt during a DRE.
Ejaculation
The release of semen through the penis during sexual climax.
Estrogen
A female hormone. Estrogens are sometimes used in the treatment of prostate cancer to block the release and activity of testosterone.
External beam radiation
Radiation is focused from a source outside the body on the area affected by the cancer.
Gleason score
A method of classifying prostate cancer cells on a scale of 2 to 10. The higher the Gleason score (also called the Gleason sum), the faster the cancer is likely to grow and the more likely it is to spread beyond the prostate.
Hormonal Therapy
Treatment with drugs to interfere with hormone production or hormone action, or the surgical removal of hormone-producing glands.
Hyperplasia
Too much growth of noncancerous cells or tissue in a specific area, such as the lining of the prostate.
Impotence
Inability to achieve an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
Incontinence (urinary)
Loss of urinary control.
Internal Radiation Therapy
The use of tiny radioactive seeds placed directly into the prostate gland to kill cancerous cells. This is also known as brachytherapy.
LHRH
Stands for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, a hormone that is produced by the hypothalamus, a tiny gland in the brain.
LHRH agonist
Down regulate the number and sensitivity of the LHRH receptors in the pituitary gland. As a result, the pituitary fails to release LH and FSH, halting testosterone production. This down regulation does not occur immediately and usually takes about 2-4 weeks.
Lymphatic System
The tissues and organs (including bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes) that produce and store cells and substances that fight infection and disease. These organs are connected by a body-wide system of channels, similar to blood vessels, that carry lymph, an almost colorless fluid, and the infection-fighting cells it contains.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Metastasis
The spread of cancer cells to distant areas of the body by way of the lymph system or bloodstream.
Oncologist
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.
Orchiectomy
Surgery to remove the testicles; castration.
Palliative Treatment
Treatment to alleviate symptoms without curing the disease.
Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection
Removal of lymph nodes near the prostate.
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
A protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. PSA circulates in the blood and can be measured with a simple blood test. PSA levels go up in the blood of some men who have prostate enlargement or prostate cancer.
Prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate.
Radiation Therapy
The use of high-energy rays, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells. The rays can be either beamed from a machine (external) or emitted by radioactive seeds implanted in the tumor (internal).
Radical Prostatectomy
Surgery to remove the entire prostate gland along with nearby tissues such as the seminal vesicles. Radical prostatectomy can be performed either through an incision in the lower abdomen ( retropubic prostatectomy) or in the space between the scrotum and the anus — the perineum ( perineal prostatectomy).
Recurrence, relapse
The reappearance of cancer after treatment has been completed.
Scrotum
The external sac or pouch containing the testes.
Semen
The fluid, containing sperm, which comes out of the penis during ejaculation.
Staging
Doing tests to establish the extent of cancer, especially whether it has spread beyond its original site to other parts of the body.
Testosterone
A male sex hormone produced primarily by the testicles. Testosterone plays an important role in a man's sexuality. It also stimulates the growth of hormone-dependent prostate cancer.
Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)
TRUS is an imaging technique, using sound waves, that allows for visualization of the internal anatomy of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and prostatic urethra. The sound waves are emitted by an instrument inserted into the rectum. TRUS is used in conjunction with a needle biopsy and is used to guide the needle to the desired sampling location.
Tumor
An abnormal growth of tissue. Tumors can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Ultrasound
An imaging technique that uses sound waves to produce pictures (sonograms) of body tissues.
Urethra (male)
A tube leading from the bladder to the tip of the penis. It allows the discharge of urine from the bladder and semen during ejaculation.
Urologist
A doctor who specializes in disorders of the urinary system and the male reproductive system.
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References
References