Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2014 are:
- About 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed
- About 29,480 men will die of prostate cancer
- About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime
- About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65
About Your Prostate
The prostate is a gland found only in males. It is located in front of the rectum and below the urinary bladder. The size of the prostate varies with age.
The prostate's job is to make a fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen, making the semen more liquid.
The prostate starts to develop before birth. It grows rapidly during puberty, fueled by male hormones called androgens in the body. The main androgen, testosterone, is made in the testicles
The prostate usually stays at about the same size or grows slowly in adults, as long as male hormones are present.
Prostate Cancer
Gland cells make the prostate fluid that is added to the semen. The medical term for a cancer that starts in gland cells is adenocarcinoma.
Other types of cancer can also start in the prostate gland, including sarcomas, small cell carcinomas, and transitional cell carcinomas.
Some prostate cancers can grow and spread quickly, but most grow slowly. In fact, autopsy studies show that many older men who died of other diseases also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives.
Finding Prostate Cancer Early
Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man's blood. Another way to find prostate cancer is the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which the doctor puts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland.
If the results of either one of these tests are abnormal, further testing is needed to see if there is a cancer.
Treating Prostate Cancer
Once your prostate cancer has been diagnosed you have a lot to think about before you and your doctor choose a treatment plan. You may feel that you must make a decision quickly, but it is important to give yourself time to absorb the information you have just learned.
Depending on the situation, the treatment options for men with prostate cancer may include:
- Expectant management (watchful waiting) or active surveillance
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Cryosurgery (cryotherapy)
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy Vaccine treatment
- Bone directed treatment
For detailed information on Prostate Cancer [Click Here]
Become A Cancer Advocate and Support Prostate Cancer Survival
