What is Prostate Cancer?

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer other than skin cancer in American men. The Cancer Facts & Figures for 2000 put out by the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 16,400 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in California with about 2,900 dying from the disease.

Prostate cancer originates in the prostate, which is one of the male sex glands. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and lies just below the urinary bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine form the bladder and semen from the sex glands out of the penis.

Prostate cancer is called the "silent killer" because by the time you feel anything, it has probably left the prostate itself and has begun to spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, men are encouraged to have regular Digital Rectal Examinations (DR E) and the blood test Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for early detection. Most major prostate cancer groups recommend that men over 50 begin a yearly screening by having these two tests done. Those men who are African-American or those who have bloodline relatives who have had prostate cancer should begin their screenings at age 40.

Recent studies here in the United States and abroad are showing that where early screenings have taken place, the death rate from prostate cancer has declined significantly because the cancer has been detected early and treatment began. The earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed, the greater the number of treatment options are available.

For those men who are dealing with the physical and emotional difficulties of prostate cancer, there are a number of support groups located throughout California. Click on Support Groups for the one near you.

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