Prostate Cancer

You are not alone if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. A man has about a 1 in 10 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Over 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in the U.S.A.

Prostate cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that begins growing in the prostate gland. It can spread from the prostate to nearby lymph nodes (small glands located throughout the body that collect and transport lymph, a fluid that carries cells that can help fight infection and disease), bones, or other organs. This spread is called metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to distant areas of the body). A male sex hormone called testosterone can stimulate the growth of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. There is good news which is that survival rates have improved; the 5-year survival rates for all stages of prostate cancer has increased from 67% to almost 100%. Contact your medical doctor about getting a PSA test if you are over 50 years old early diagnosis is one of the keys to a high survival rate

Prostate Cancer Key Points

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. The FDA has also approved the PSA test to monitor patients with a history of prostate cancer to see if the cancer has recurred.
Doctors recommendations for PSA screening vary.
The higher a mans PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present, but there are other possible reasons for an elevated PSA level.
Doctors take several factors into account for men who have a rising PSA after treatment for prostate cancer.
The PSA test for screening has limitations and is still controversial.

What is the Prostate Gland?

The prostate is a gland, is about the size of a walnut, that makes and stores semen. The prostate is necessary for male sexual function and reproduction.

What does the Prostate Gland do?

The prostate gland main job is to produce semen, the fluid that carries sperm. This fluid helps protect sperm from the vagina's acidity during ejaculation.

Where is the Gland located?

The prostate gland is located just below the bottom of the bladder and in front of the rectum.

It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the body.

3 major areas of concern related to the prostate:

Enlarging Prostate: A common condition in which the prostate grows and places pressure on the urethra causing urinary problems
Prostatitis: Inflammation or infection of the prostate gland usually caused by bacteria
Prostate Cancer: The most common cancer diagnosed in men today

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