What is the prostate?
The prostate is a male sex gland, part of a man’s reproductive system.
The prostate is about the size of a walnut. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
What is prostate cancer?
Cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control.
Cancer of the prostate is the most common malignancy in American men. Malignancy is a cancerous
tumor that can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
Early prostate cancer is localized (confined) to the gland, and the majority of patients with localized
prostate cancer have a long survival after diagnosis. The American Cancer Society estimates the
following statistics for 2003:
National
- 220,900 individuals were expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer
- 28,900 individuals were expected to die from prostate cancer
District of Columbia
- 600 individuals will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
- 100 individuals will die from prostate cancer
Who is at risk for prostate cancer?
All men are at risk. The most common risk factor is age. More than 75 percent of men diagnosed
with prostate cancer each year are over the age of 65. African American men have a higher risk of
prostate cancer than white Americans. There is some evidence that a diet higher in animal fat may,
in part, underlie these differences in risk. Genetic factors also appear to play a role, particularly
for families in whom the diagnosis is made in men under age of 60 years. The risk of prostate cancer
rises with the number of close relatives who have the disease. It is generally recommended that men
who are at high-risk begin screening at age 40 and men who are not at high-risk begin screening at age 50.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years. By the time symptoms occur,
the disease may have spread beyond the prostate. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Inability to urinate
- Trouble starting or holding back urination
- A weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
Can prostate cancer be fround before a man has symptoms?
Yes. Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms.
One is the digital rectal exam, in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas.
The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA).
What are the treatment options for localized prostate cancer?
There are three generally accepted options for treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer:
radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy and surveillance (also called watchful waiting).
Where can I find additional information?
National Cancer Institute (NCI) – (800) 422-6237 or
http://cis.nci.nih.gov Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – (800) 311-3435 or
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/prostate.htm
