Topic Overview
Is this topic for you?
For information on cancer that has come back or spread to other
parts of the body, see the topic
Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in a man's
prostate
gland
. The prostate sits just below the bladder. It makes part of the
fluid for
semen. In young men, the prostate is about the size of
a walnut. It usually grows larger as you grow older.
Prostate cancer is common in men older than 65. It usually grows
slowly and can take years to grow large enough to cause any problems. Most
cases are treatable, because they are found with screening tests before the
cancer has spread to other parts of the body.1
Although most men may die with prostate cancer, most men
do not die from it.
Experts don't know what causes prostate cancer, but they believe
that your age, family history (genetics), and race affect your chances of
getting it. Eating a high-fat diet may also play a part.2
What are the symptoms?
Prostate cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early
stages. Most men don't know they have it until it is found during a regular
medical examination.
When problems are noticed, they are most often problems with
urinating. But these same symptoms can also be caused by an enlarged prostate
(benign prostatic hyperplasia). An enlarged prostate is
common in older men.
See your doctor for a checkup if:
- You have trouble starting your urine
stream.
- You have a weaker-than-normal urine stream.
- You
cannot urinate at all.
- You have to urinate often.
- You
feel like your bladder is not emptying completely when you
urinate.
- You have to get up at night to urinate.
- You
have pain or burning when you urinate.
- You have blood in your
urine.
- You have a deep pain in your lower back, belly, hip, or
pelvis.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The most common way to check for prostate cancer is to have a
digital rectal examination, in which the doctor puts a
gloved, lubricated finger in your rectum to feel your prostate, and a
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. A higher
level of PSA may mean that you have prostate cancer, but it could also mean
that you have an enlargement or infection of the prostate.
If your PSA is high, or if your doctor finds anything in the
rectal examination, he or she may do a
biopsy to figure out the cause. A biopsy means your
doctor takes a sample of tissue from your prostate gland and sends it to a lab
for testing.
Because many men have regular checkups, about 9 out of 10
prostate cancers are found in the early stages. The 5-year survival rate is
almost 100%.1 The 5-year survival rate shows the
percentage of men still alive 5 years or longer after diagnosis. It’s important
to remember that everyone’s case is different, and these numbers may not show
what will happen in your case.
Should you have regular tests for prostate cancer?
It is important to have regular health checkups, including a
digital rectal examination. But experts disagree on whether regular PSA testing
is right for all men. Testing could lead to cancer treatment that can cause
other health problems, especially loss of bladder control and not being able to
have an erection.
Talk with your doctor about the reasons for and against having a
PSA test for prostate cancer. The decision to have a PSA test depends on your
doctor's opinion and your preferences.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Your treatment will depend on what kind of cancer cells you have,
how far they have spread, your age and general health, and your
preferences.
You and your doctor may decide to treat your cancer with
surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or a combination. Or, if the cancer has
not spread and you are around age 70 or older, you may be able to
wait and watch to see what happens. During watchful
waiting, you will have regular checkups with your doctor to see if your cancer
has changed.
Choosing treatment for prostate cancer can be confusing. Talk
with your doctor to choose the treatment that is best for you.
How can treatment affect your quality of life?
Both surgery and radiation can cause
urinary incontinence (not being able to control
urination) or impotence (not being able to have an erection).
Nerves that help a man have an erection are right next to the
prostate. Surgery to remove the cancer may damage them. Many times a special
form of surgery, called nerve-sparing surgery, can be used to try to avoid
damaging the nerves. But if the cancer has spread to the nerves, they may have
to be removed during surgery.
These same nerves can also be damaged by the X-rays that are
used in radiation therapy.
Drugs and mechanical aids may help men who are impotent because
of treatment. Many men recover their ability to have an erection several months
or years after surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about prostate
cancer:
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Being diagnosed:
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Getting treatment:
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Ongoing concerns:
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Living with prostate
cancer:
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