Facts on Prostate Cancer Awareness

Prostate cancer is a malignant growth in the cells of the prostate gland, having the ability to spread to other parts of the body. Because it is often a slow-growing cancer, a newly diagnosed patient has time to gather information and become fully educated about the disease.

Function of the Prostate

• The prostate is a walnut-sized, fluid-producing gland in the male body that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra. The prostate produces and stores a transparent secretion needed to liquefy coagulated semen into seminal fluid, and acts as a storage unit for the secretion until it is needed for sexual activity.

The Statistics

• According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, excluding skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. Almost 200,000 cases are diagnosed each year, with 32,000 men dying of the disease annually.

Who is at Risk?

• The chance of developing prostate cancer increases with age. According to the 2001 California Cancer Journal for Clinicians, one in 103 men aged 40 to 59 will develop prostate cancer. That increases to one in eight men when they reach 60 to 79 years of age. Additionally, prostate cancer is 66 percent more prevalent among African-Americans.

Causes

• The exact underlying cause of prostate cancer is still unknown. It may be related to changes in male hormone-related genes, diet and family history.

Warning Signs

• Prostate cancer gives little warning signs. Fatigue, weight loss, and aches and pains are associated with advanced cases. Men who are 50 and older should undergo yearly prostate cancer screenings, including a digital rectal examination and prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing. Men with family histories should be screened starting at age 40.