Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland is a common disease in older men  A prospective study to establish the incidence and risk factors for prostate cancer in men aged over 35 found that 3% of 216 men undergoing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing had elevated levels, although none had an abnormal prostate on digital rectal examination. In a retrospective analysis of medical records, 5 cases of prostate neoplasia were found, and 4/11 men aged over 60 had a diagnosis of prostate cancer, but without an association with CD4 cell count.

African American ethnicity (p = 0.020) and duration of HIV infection (p = 0.047) were associated with the risk of prostate cancer.1 However, the small size of this study limits the strength of this study's conclusions, which will require verification in future studies.

Prostate cancer can be treated by surgery, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy.

References

  1. Crum NF et al. Prostate carcinoma among men with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Cancer 101: 294-299, 2004
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