What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer grows in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found just below a man’s bladder. The purpose of the gland is to make some of the fluid for semen.
Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms
Symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Pain during urination (peeing)
- Difficultly starting or stopping the stream of urine (pee)
- Low back pain
- Pain during ejaculation
- Loss of bladder control
- Blood or urine or semen
- Difficulty getting an erection
- Less flow while urinating
- Need to urinate more frequently during the day
- Need to get up too many times during the night to urinate
Symptoms of prostate cancer may be similar to other health conditions or prostate problems, such as prostatitis (inflammation) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (“BPH” or enlarged prostate). See your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Causes
Scientists don’t know exactly what causes prostate cancer, but these things increase your chance of getting it:
- Age over 65 years
- Family history of the disease, especially if family members were young when it was found
- Being African-American
- Diet high in saturated fat
- Obesity
- High testosterone levels
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider may do a digital rectal exam—insert their finger into your rectum—to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual. You may also get a blood test. If any of the results are unusual, you may need imaging tests, such as ultrasound or MRI. You may also need a biopsy, a procedure in which a doctor removes some of the prostate tissue for more testing.
Treatments
Treatment depends on how much the cancer has spread. There are many different treatment options. A treatment that works best for one man many not be the best one for another. Sometimes, a combination of treatments is best. Treatment options include:
- Watchful waiting
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy