Prostate Cancer
· Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. It forms as a malignant growth in the prostate gland. However, not all growths in the prostate are cancerous. The main screening tests for prostate cancer are prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE). Both are used to help detect cancer early. If you are 55 to 69 years of age, you should talk to your doctor about whether prostate screening is right for you.
Definition
The prostate and seminal vesicles are part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and weights about one ounce. The prostate and seminal vesicles’ main job is to make fluid to bathe semen to protect and nourish sperm. Prostate cancer is cancer that develops in the prostate gland. It is the most common cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the U.S. About 1 in 9 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.
The main screening tests to detect prostate cancer are prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE). Both are used to help detect cancer early and are important tools. If you are 55 to 69 years of age, you should talk to your doctor about whether prostate screening is right for you. Abnormal results with either test may be due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or infection, rather than cancer. A prostate biopsy, a minor procedure, is the only way to diagnose prostate cancer.
Growths in the prostate can be benign or malignant.
· Benign growths:
o Are rarely life threatening
o Don’t invade the tissues around them
o Don’t spread to other parts of the body
o Can be removed. They can grow back slowly but usually they do not grow back.
· Malignant growths:
o May sometimes be life threatening
o Can spread to nearby organs and tissues such as the bladder or rectum
o Can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body like lymph nodes or bones
o Often can be removed but sometimes grow back
Risk factors for prostate cancer include
· Age. As men age their risk of developing, prostate cancer goes up. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40 because damage to the genetic material (DNA) of prostate cells is more likely in men over the age of 55. Damaged or abnormal prostate cells can begin to grow out of control and form tumors.
· Ethnicity. African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer. One in six African American men will get prostate cancer. African American men are also more likely to get prostate cancer at an earlier age. Other ethnicities, such as Hispanic and Asian men, are less likely to get prostate cancer.
· Family history. Men with a family history of prostate cancer face a higher risk of developing the disease. A man is two to three times more likely to get prostate cancer if his father, brother or son had it. The age when a close relative was diagnosed is also an important factor.
· Smoking. Studies show that the risk of developing prostate cancer is double for heavy smokers. However, within 10 years of quitting smoking, the risk of developing prostate cancer goes down to that of a non-smoker that’s the same age.
· Geography and location. Prostate cancer numbers and deaths vary around the world but are higher in North America and Northern Europe.
· Diet. Diet and lifestyle may affect the risk of prostate cancer. A lack of exercise is also linked to prostate cancer. Obesity is known to increase the risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Treatment options for prostate cancer vary based on a number of factors. Deciding what treatment you should get can be complex. Talk with your health care team about your options.