Clinical meaning
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. The vast majority (95%) are adenocarcinomas arising from the glandular epithelium of the peripheral zone of the prostate. Prostate cancer is hormone-dependent — testosterone (converted to dihydrotestosterone by 5-alpha-reductase within prostate cells) drives cancer cell growth. This hormonal dependency is the basis for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which remains a cornerstone of treatment for advanced disease. The Gleason grading system evaluates tumor architecture on biopsy (two most common patterns scored 1-5, summed for total Gleason score 2-10; higher scores indicate more poorly differentiated, aggressive tumors). Localized prostate cancer may be managed with active surveillance (for low-grade, low-volume tumors), radical prostatectomy, or radiation therapy. The nurse monitors PSA levels (prostate-specific antigen — used for screening and monitoring treatment response, though it is organ-specific, not cancer-specific), assists with post-prostatectomy care (catheter management, pelvic floor exercises), monitors for treatment side effects (urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction from surgery; bowel/bladder irritation from radiation; hot flashes, osteoporosis, metabolic effects from ADT), and provides psychosocial support for body image and sexual function concerns.