Quick Facts: Prostate Cancer

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men with exception of skin cancers. It starts in the prostate, which is part of the male urinary tract. The main function of the prostate gland is to produce and excrete a fluid that is part of semen. Semen is released during ejaculation.

Prostate cancer can remain in the prostate gland or it can metastasize, or spread to other tissues and organs. The extent to which it has spread determines how easy it is to treat.

A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut, but some conditions cause it to get larger. For some men, enlargement is caused by a malignant tumor from prostate cancer.

Who's at risk?

• Age: Most common in men over age 50.
  
• African-Americans at greater risk than Caucasians
  
• High fat diets
  
• Family history of prostate cancer
  
• Obesity
  

Regular screening may be the best way to stay healthy

Localized prostate cancer is easier to treat when caught early. Getting screened regularly increases the chances of finding cancer early. We recommend that men over the age of 50 get a yearly PSA blood test and digital rectal exam. If you are at high risk, then you should start screening at 40 or 45.

PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams are the standard screening tests for prostate cancer. If the results are abnormal, then your doctor may perform additional tests to determine if cancer is present and to what degree.

• PSA Blood Test: This test measures the level of a substance produced by the prostate gland as it appears in a blood sample. Results of 4 or higher are considered cause for concern.
  
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for lumps
  

Symptoms

Men often don't experience symptoms with early prostate cancers. Some later symptoms might include:

• A need to urinate often
  
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
  
• Inability to urinate
  
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  
• Painful or burning ejaculation
  
• Blood in urine or semen
  
• Frequent pain or stiffness in lower back, hips, or upper thighs
  

If Diagnosed

Some common treatment options include:

• Radical Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of prostate gland & nearby tissue
  
• Radiation Therapy: Kills or shrinks cancer cells by using beams or pellets
  
• Hormone Therapy: Lowers hormone levels by castration or injection
  
• Cryosurgery: Freezes cancer cells with a metal probe
  
• Chemotherapy: For late stage prostate cancer, drugs that kill cancer cells
  
• Expectant Therapy: No therapy for early cancers that will progress slowly
  
• Clinical trials: Experimental treatments
  

Talk to your doctor about the treatment option(s) right for you.

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