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Mon expérience avec la radiothérapie – Par Joseph, 67 ans

Mon expérience avec la radiothérapie – Par Joseph, 67 ans

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Voici en bref l’histoire de mon expérience du cancer de la prostate, la description de mes traitements et un aperçu de l’impact de la maladie sur ma vie. Depuis un certain temps, mon médecin de famille surveillait l’état de ma prostate élargie jusqu’au jour où il décida d’approfondir l’investigation. Il m’envoya consulter un urologue. Ce dernier me fit passer une échographie pour évaluer avec précision l’état de ma prostate et, au besoin, pratiquer des biopsies.

Le 26 avril 2001, à 67 ans, j’apprenais que j’étais atteint d’un cancer de la prostate. Inutile de dire que la nouvelle m’avait sidéré. L’urologue m’expliqua ce qu’il avait découvert et il me proposa un choix de plusieurs traitements, tout en me suggérant de prendre le temps d’y réfléchir avant de me décider. Même si l’idée me déplaisait souverainement, je savais que je n’avais pas d’autre choix que d’accepter ma situation et de lutter contre la maladie de toutes mes forces et avec tout le soutien que je pouvais aller chercher.

J’ai trouvé particulièrement difficile l’attente entre les démarches et les analyses, qui servaient à évaluer la gravité de ma maladie. J’imaginais les pires scénarios : et si le cancer s’était déjà propagé; quel type de traitement fallait-il me donner? Pensait-on pouvoir me guérir? L’incertitude et les inconnus auxquels j’étais confronté étaient une grande source d’anxiété, de stress et d’inquiétude.

Après avoir consulté un urologue, mon médecin de famille et un radio-oncologue, en qui j’avais placé toute ma confiance, j’ai retrouvé l’espoir et la force nécessaires pour aller de l’avant avec la radiothérapie, le traitement que j’avais choisi. Tout en tolérant bien les traitements quotidiens, j’ai subi durant les premières semaines des effets secondaires, notamment un inconfort rectal et des saignements qui naturellement me préoccupaient. L’attitude du personnel de radio-oncologie et leur soutien m’ont grandement aidé à composer avec ces problèmes.

Les traitements de radiothérapie ne durent que sept à huit semaines, mais leurs effets sur ma qualité de vie, incluant mon bien-être physique et mental, ont persisté environ un an avant que je retrouve mon ancienne forme. Je vis toujours dans la crainte d’une rechute. De là l’importance de conserver une attitude positive et de croire en un avenir meilleur. J’ai de bons et de mauvais jours, mais qui n’en a pas. Le soutien et la compréhension de ma famille ont été d’une importance vitale pour m’aider à surmonter cette épreuve. À l’heure actuelle, j’essaie de mener une vie normale, d’en profiter pleinement et de jouir de chaque moment qui m’est accordé. J’espère de toutes mes forces que ma rémission est permanente.

Discover our animated video!

Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 years old, or have you been having urinary problems for some time now? This video is for you! Several diseases can affect your prostate, and it’s important to detect them early. Let’s take a closer look. 

 

Anatomy

What is the prostate

Illustration de l’appareil de l’homme pour un cancer prostate

The prostate is a gland:

  • Located between the bladder and the penis, just in front of the rectum;
  • Formed of 2 lobes which surround the urethra, a canal that runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine and sperm flow out of the body;
  • The size of a walnut, which grows larger in size in your forties;
  • That has a soft, spongy texture to the touch like a small, ripe plum.

The prostate is made of:

  • Gland cells that secrete liquids for ejaculation;
  • Muscle cells that participate in the evacuation of your sperm during ejaculation;
  • Fiber cells that maintain the structure of the gland.

Around the prostate, we find:

  • The seminal vesicles, glands that produce sperm and that are located on either side of the prostate;
  • The vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicle to the seminal vesicles;
  • The nerve bundles that control your bladder and erectile function and that are located on either side of your prostate.

Structure

Three main zones of the prostate

Illustration des 3 zones de la prostate de l’homme cancer prostate

Peripheral zone

  • The peripheral zone is the largest area of the prostate. It can easily be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal exam (DRE).
  • Most prostate cancers start in the peripheral zone.

Transition zone

  • This is the area located in the middle of the prostate, between the peripheral and central areas. It surrounds your urethra that runs through the prostate.
  • With age, the transitional area increases in size until it becomes the largest portion of your prostate. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.

Central zone

  • It is the part of the prostate that is farthest from the rectum. This is why prostate tumors located in this area can not be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal examination.
  • If the doctor is in doubt, the following information will help decide if additional investigation is necessary:
    • Your PSA level
    • Your age and family history
    • Your ethnic origin

Fonction

In short

Illustration d’une prostate saine cancer prostate

Your fertility and natural fertilization

  • It produces … a prostatic fluid rich in enzymes, proteins and minerals that nourishes and protects your spermatozoa.
  • It makes … a protein (APS) that is used to liquefy your sperm to facilitate the mobility of your spermatozoa.
  • It allows … ejaculation by contracting.
  • It promotes … fertility through its enzymes facilitating the penetration of sperm through the cervix.
  • It is not related to the mechanism of erection. Therefore, the origin of erectile dysfunction lies elsewhere.

Additional details

Exocrine Function

The prostate is made up of thousands of tiny fluid-producing glands. Specifically, the prostate is an exocrine gland. Exocrine glands are so-called because they secrete through ducts to the outside of the body (or into a cavity that communicates with the outside). Sweat glands are another example of an exocrine gland.

The fluid that the prostate gland produces forms part of semen, the fluid that carries sperm during orgasm. This fluid, produced in the prostate, is stored with sperm in the seminal vesicles. When the male climaxes, muscular contractions cause the prostate to secrete this fluid into the urethra, where it is expelled from the body through the penis.

Urine Flow

The prostate wraps itself around the urethra as it passes from the bladder to the penis. Prostatic changes can affect urine flow. Increasing the size of the prostate or muscle tone may impede the flow of urine due to the close anatomical relationship between the urethra and the prostate.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

The prostate also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is released with the ejaculatory fluid and can also be traced in the bloodstream. The testing of PSA levels in the blood is used to detect prostate cancer. The level of PSA in the blood is usually measured in nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL).

A raised PSA level

Usually, a PSA rate of less than 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood is normal, but age should also be taken into consideration as PSA levels gradually increase with age. A rise in PSA concentration may indicate the presence of:

  • An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
  • An inflammation or infection of the prostate (prostatitis)
  • A prostate cancer

Your doctor will have you undergo other tests to determine the exact cause of the increase in your PSA.

We are here for you

You have questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate. Contact us at 1-855-899-2873 to discuss with one of our nurses specialized in uro-oncology. They are there to listen, support and answer your questions, and those of your family or your loved ones. It’s simple and free, like all of our other services.

Also take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease, our expert lectures, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you, our events and ways to get involved to advance the cause..

 

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The medical content and editorial team at PROCURE
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Sources and references

Last medical and editorial review: September 2023
Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved

Le cancer de la prostate
ne le vivez pas seul.
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Le cancer de la prostate
ne le vivez pas seul.

Nos professionnels de la santé  sont là pour répondre à toutes vos questions ainsi que celles de vos proches. Contactez-nous.

Ligne de soutien 7/7 sans frais
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