What is Prostate Cancer

The prostate consists of a small gland which in men, is located under the bladder. It has a doughnut shape and fits around the urethra, a tube that transports urine from the bladder. The prostate produces fluid which mixes with sperm during male ejaculation.

The most common type of cancer in men throughout most western countries is prostate cancer. Most tumours are slow growing and often do not require treatment. However, some grow rapidly and can spread to the bones causing considerable pain. There are approximately 30,000 new cases per year within the UK, 215,000 in the USA, 12,000 in Australia and 20,000 in Canada.

There are a number of symptoms associated with prostate cancer such as inability to urinate or difficulty passing urine, especially at night, interrupted or weak urine flow, pain and/or blood during urination, pain in the lower back, upper thighs and hips. It is important, however to bear in mind that other conditions such as benign prostate enlargement can cause these symptoms. A doctor should always be consulted where these symptoms are present.

Although experts have not yet established the exact cause for prostate cancer, it is thought that radiation is a cause for a small proportion of cases. Approximately 5 to 10% of cases are found in families where the patient has inherited a high risk of prostate cancer.

It is very rare to find prostate cancer in men under the age of 50 years. The risk of developing the disease increases after the age of 50 and over half of cases occur in men over the age of 75 years. Those men who have a history of prostate cancer are at an increased risk. 

Certain scientific evidence has suggested that eating a low-fat diet can help to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Studies have also suggested that diets which are high in tomatoes, cruciform vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, vitamin E can also reduce a man's risk, although these studies have not yet been confirmed.

Although it was once believed that a vasectomy increased the risk of a man developing prostate cancer, recent research suggests that there is no difference between those who have and have not had a vasectomy.

Experts have not yet found a way of preventing prostate cancer, although research and studies have found that those men who took 200 microgrammes of selenium each day had a reduced risk of producing prostate cancer. 

It has been found that some families have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The normal risk of developing prostate cancer some time during a man's life is 1 in 13. By having one or more close relative such as a father or brother develop prostate cancer before the age of 70, a man's risk will increase by two or three times.

Early diagnosis can increase the success of treatment. However, when the cancer becomes advanced, it will become more difficult to cure. Men over the age of 50 years should be aware of the symptoms and ensure that they have a medical examination if there are any warning signs.

Prostate cancer news on the Web

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Top Expert Debunks 4 Myths MARLTON, N.J., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. For those diagnosed with the disease and their families, it's an ideal time to dispel common myths associated with prostate cancer. "Often the public's knowledge or understanding of the disease might not be accurate," says Michael Diefenbach, Ph.D., associate professor of Urology at Mount Sinai School of ...

Prostate cancer awareness group grateful for support The Orillia Prostate Cancer Awareness Group wish to thank the cancer office, the Champlain Seniors, the volunteers and community groups that helped with the July 24 Tag Day. We thank the several sponsors and many businesses who allowed us to tag at their locations.[...]

Free prostate cancer screenings Norwalk Hospital urologists will conduct a free prostate cancer screening in observance of “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.” The free screening, sponsored by the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital, and coordinated by Linda Versea, administrative manager of the Whittingham Cancer Center, will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 to noon in the Cancer Center.

Heathcare Hotline: Understanding prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. The American Cancer Society estimated that...

Prostate cancer treatments can vary The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder in men.

Abiraterone Acetate For Metatastic Prostate Cancer So Effective That Phase 3 Trial Was Unblinded Abiraterone Acetate plus prednisone was undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials on patients with metastatic advanced prostate cancer (castration-resistant prostate cancer) when an Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended unblinding the study - this means the patients who were not receiving the Abiraterone Acetate should be offered it, Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development, a unit of ...

Palmetto Health offers free prostate cancer screenings In observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Palmetto Health is offering free prostate cancer screenings throughout the community in September.

When To Test For Prostate Cancer? Ads urge men of a certain age to get screened for prostate cancer. But is "test early, test often" the best approach? Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society and Mark Scholz, author of Invasion Of The Prostate Snatchers, discuss other approaches.

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital Features Programs for Men September is national Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers several programs specific to mens health issues. Although its mortality rate has steadily fallen in the last decade, prostate cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States.At 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 14 and 28, Dennis Buttimer, M.Ed., RYT,...

Greenview Offers Free Prostate Cancer Screenings One in every six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. African-American men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. That's why doctors are encouraging you to "Know Your Stats About Prostate Cancer."