Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer cells, and can then spread to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control. The prostate is a gland found only in males. It makes some of the fluid that is part of semen.
The prostate is below the bladder (the hollow organ where urine is stored) and in front of the rectum (the last part of the intestines). Just behind the prostate are glands called seminal vesicles that make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, goes through the center of the prostate. The size of the prostate can change as a man ages. In younger men, it is about the size of a walnut, but it can be much larger in older men.
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that’s more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as trouble urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in semen, discomfort in the pelvic area, bone pain, and erectile dysfunction.
Your prostate cancer treatment options depend on several factors, such as how fast your cancer is growing, how much it has spread, and your overall health, as well as the potential benefits or side effects of the treatment. For men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, treatment may not be necessary right away. Some men may never need treatment. Surgery for prostate cancer involves removing the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy), some surrounding tissue and a few lymph nodes. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. Prostate cancer radiation therapy can be delivered in two ways: external beam radiation and brachytherapy. Hormone therapy is a treatment to stop your body from producing the male hormone testosterone. Prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to help them grow. Cutting off the supply of testosterone may cause cancer cells to die or to grow more slowly. Hormone therapy options include medications or orchiectomy) Cryosurgery or cryoablation involves freezing tissue to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein in your arm, in pill form or both.
Chemotherapy may be a treatment option for men with prostate cancer that has spread to remote body locations. Chemotherapy may also be an option for cancers that don’t respond to hormone therapy.
The table below includes the most commonly used ICD-10 codes for prostate cancer:
| ICD-10 Chapter | Codes | Code Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate |
| 21 | Z12.5 | Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of prostate |
| 21 | Z80.42 | Family history of malignant neoplasm of prostate |
| 21 | Z85.46 | Personal history of malignant neoplasm of prostate |
Author: Tonoya Ahmed
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