What is Prostate Cancer?
The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and then die. Sometimes, cells mutate (change) and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous (also called malignant tumors), they can invade and kill your body’s healthy tissues. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body. By contrast, noncancerous tumors (also called benign tumors) do not spread to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer is abnormal cells in the prostate gland. Like many types of cancer, prostate cancer can be aggressive. This means it grows quickly and can spread to other parts of the body. (When cancer spreads, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.”) Prostate cancer can also grow more slowly. If you have prostate cancer, it is important for your doctor to monitor the growth of your cancer carefully. If left complete
About the prostate The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in front of the rectum and underneath the urinary bladder. It is found only in men. The prostate’s job is to make some of the fluid that protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen. Just behind the prostate gland are the seminal vesicles that make most of the fluid for semen. The urethra, which is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis, runs through the prostate. The prostate starts to develop before birth and continues to grow until a man reaches adulthood. This growth is fueled by male hormones (called androgens) in the body. The main androgen, testosterone, is made in the testicles. The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT signals the prostate to grow. The prostate stays at adult size in adults as long as male hormones are present. In older men, the inner part of the prostate (around the urethra) often keeps growing, leading to a common condi
Prostate cancer is a group of cancerous cells (a malignant tumor) that begins most often in the outer part of the prostate. It is the most common type of cancer (excluding skin cancer) diagnosed in American men. In 2003, an estimated 220,900 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. Early prostate cancer usually does not cause any symptoms. However, as the tumor grows, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas. Change in urination, including increased frequency, hesitancy or dribbling of urine may be experienced. Prostate cancer can spread from the prostate to nearby lymph nodes, bones or other organs. This spread is called metastasis. For example, as a result of metastasis to the spine, some men experience back pain.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in America. It is usually found in older men, and the risk of having prostate cancer increases with age. It is mainly found in men of 55 years and above. In this disease, cancer cells are first formed in the prostate and can then spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and other selected structures. For more information, see The causes of prostate cancer.
