Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease which only affects men. Cancer begins to grow in the prostate - gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It makes most of the semen that carries sperm. The walnut - sized gland is located beneath the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethar, the tube that carries urine from the bladder.
Prostate cancer is a major health concern for American men. Prostate cancer is rare before age 50, and experts believe that most elderly men have traces of it.
In 2013, about 238,500 new cases will be diagnose diagnosed in the U.S.A and about 29,700 will die for it. African - American men are more likely to get prostate cancer and have the highest death rate. In other parts of the world -- notably Asia, Africa, and Latin America -- prostate cancer is rare.
Prostate cancer , it is usually a very slow growing cancer, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes, and many never know that they have the disease. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spread outside the prostate, it is dangerous. Developing prostate in its early stages [ when it is only found in the prostate gland] can be treated with very good chances for survival. Fortunately, about 85 percent of American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in an early stage of the disease.
Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate such as lymph nodes, bones, and lungs is not curable, but it may be controlled for many years. Because of the many advances in available treatments, most men whose prostate cancer becomes widespread can expect to live five years or more. Some men with advanced prostate cancer live a normal life and die of another cause like heart disease.
Causes of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, the cause of this cancer is unknown, but the cancer is not thought to be related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The risk (predisposing) factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics (heredity), hormonal influences, and such environmental factors as toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The chances of prostate cancer increase with age. Thus, prostate cancer under age 40 is extremely rare, while it is common in men older than 80 years of age. Some studies have suggested that among men over 80 years of age, 50 percent to 80 percent of them may have developing prostate cancer. More than 80 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years of age.
African-American men are 1.6 times more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer. They are also 2.4 times more likely to die from their disease as compared to white men of a similar age. These differences in diagnosis and death rates are, however, more likely to reflect a difference in factors like environmental exposure, lifestyle, diet, and health-seeking behavior rather than any racial susceptibility to prostate cancer. Recent studies indicate that this disparity is progressively decreasing with chances of complete cure in men undergoing treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer [cancer that is limited to within prostate without spread outside the confines of the prostate gland], irrespective of race.
Genetics, as just mentioned, plays a role in risk of a prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common among family members of individuals with prostate cancer. This risk may be 2 to 3 times greater than the risk for men without a family history of the disease. Earlier age at diagnosis (<60 years) in a first-degree relative more than one relative also increases the risk for prostate cancer.
Sexual transmitted infections can be the risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Men with a history of sexually transmitted infections have a 1.4 time greater chance of developing prostate cancer as compared men without this history.
Testosterone, the male hormone produced by the testicles, directly stimulates growth of both normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer cells. Not surprisingly, therefore, this hormone is thought to be involved in the development and growth of prostate cancer. The important implication of the role of this hormone is that decreasing the level of testosterone should be effective in inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer.
Signs and symptoms
Prostate cancer frequently does not produce any symptoms until the condition is quite advanced. Often it is diagnosed after treatment is sought for problems with urinary function. Symptoms of prostate cancer are often similar to those of benign(non-cancerous) prostate conditions.
Below are some more common symptoms:
Prostate cancer is a disease which only affects men. Cancer begins to grow in the prostate - gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It makes most of the semen that carries sperm. The walnut - sized gland is located beneath the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethar, the tube that carries urine from the bladder.
Prostate cancer is a major health concern for American men. Prostate cancer is rare before age 50, and experts believe that most elderly men have traces of it.
In 2013, about 238,500 new cases will be diagnose diagnosed in the U.S.A and about 29,700 will die for it. African - American men are more likely to get prostate cancer and have the highest death rate. In other parts of the world -- notably Asia, Africa, and Latin America -- prostate cancer is rare.
Prostate cancer , it is usually a very slow growing cancer, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes, and many never know that they have the disease. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spread outside the prostate, it is dangerous. Developing prostate in its early stages [ when it is only found in the prostate gland] can be treated with very good chances for survival. Fortunately, about 85 percent of American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in an early stage of the disease.
Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate such as lymph nodes, bones, and lungs is not curable, but it may be controlled for many years. Because of the many advances in available treatments, most men whose prostate cancer becomes widespread can expect to live five years or more. Some men with advanced prostate cancer live a normal life and die of another cause like heart disease.
Causes of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, the cause of this cancer is unknown, but the cancer is not thought to be related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The risk (predisposing) factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics (heredity), hormonal influences, and such environmental factors as toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The chances of prostate cancer increase with age. Thus, prostate cancer under age 40 is extremely rare, while it is common in men older than 80 years of age. Some studies have suggested that among men over 80 years of age, 50 percent to 80 percent of them may have developing prostate cancer. More than 80 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years of age.
African-American men are 1.6 times more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer. They are also 2.4 times more likely to die from their disease as compared to white men of a similar age. These differences in diagnosis and death rates are, however, more likely to reflect a difference in factors like environmental exposure, lifestyle, diet, and health-seeking behavior rather than any racial susceptibility to prostate cancer. Recent studies indicate that this disparity is progressively decreasing with chances of complete cure in men undergoing treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer [cancer that is limited to within prostate without spread outside the confines of the prostate gland], irrespective of race.
Genetics, as just mentioned, plays a role in risk of a prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common among family members of individuals with prostate cancer. This risk may be 2 to 3 times greater than the risk for men without a family history of the disease. Earlier age at diagnosis (<60 years) in a first-degree relative more than one relative also increases the risk for prostate cancer.
Sexual transmitted infections can be the risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Men with a history of sexually transmitted infections have a 1.4 time greater chance of developing prostate cancer as compared men without this history.
Testosterone, the male hormone produced by the testicles, directly stimulates growth of both normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer cells. Not surprisingly, therefore, this hormone is thought to be involved in the development and growth of prostate cancer. The important implication of the role of this hormone is that decreasing the level of testosterone should be effective in inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer.
Signs and symptoms
Prostate cancer frequently does not produce any symptoms until the condition is quite advanced. Often it is diagnosed after treatment is sought for problems with urinary function. Symptoms of prostate cancer are often similar to those of benign(non-cancerous) prostate conditions.
Below are some more common symptoms:
- Pain or difficulty when passing urine
- Decreased force of the urine stream
- Passing urine more frequently[ especially at night ]
- Blood in the urine
- Inability to pass urine [ this can occur as the cancer enlarges, blocking the urethra).
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