Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the prostate, it is called prostate cancer. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men. It produces fluid that makes up a part of semen.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in
men, and second only to lung cancer in the number of cancer deaths.
Symptoms
Different people have different symptoms for prostate
cancer. Some men do not have symptoms at all. Some symptoms of prostate cancer
are:-Difficulty in starting urination
-Weak or interrupted flow of urine
-Frequent urination, especially at night
-Difficulty in completely emptying the bladder
-Pain or burning during urination
-Blood in the urine or semen
-Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away
-Painful ejaculation
If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. These symptoms may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer.
Risk Factors
There is no way to know for sure if you will get prostate
cancer. Men have a greater chance of getting prostate cancer if they are 50
years old or older, are African-American, or have a father, brother, or son who
has had prostate cancer.
Screening for
Prostate Cancer
Not all medical experts agree that screening for prostate
cancer will save lives. Currently, there is not enough credible evidence to
decide if the potential benefit of prostate cancer screening outweighs the
potential risks. The potential benefit of prostate cancer screening is early
detection of cancer, which may make treatment more effective. Potential risks
include false positive test results (the test says you have cancer when you do
not), treatment of prostate cancers that may never affect your health, and mild
to serious side effects from treatment of prostate cancer.
Most organizations recommend that men discuss with their
doctors the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening. CDC supports
informed decision making, which encourages men to talk with their doctors to
learn the nature and risk of prostate cancer, understand the benefits and risks
of the screening tests, and make decisions consistent with their preferences
and values.
Tests that are
commonly used to screen for prostate cancer are—
Digital rectal exam (DRE): A doctor, nurse, or other health
care professional places a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the size,
shape, and hardness of the prostate gland.
Prostate specific antigen test (PSA): PSA is a substance
made by the prostate. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood,
which may be higher in men who have prostate cancer. However, other conditions
such as an enlarged prostate, PSA levels.
Ask Questions-Doctors
and other health care professionals
As you cope with
cancer and cancer treatment, we encourage you to have honest, open talks with
your doctor. Feel free to ask any question that's on your mind, no matter how
small it might seem. Be sure to write down your questions as you think of them. Nurses, social workers, and other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of your questions.
More information about prostate cancer
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