Prostate Cancer

• Prostate Cancer Overview
• Prostate Cancer Causes
• Prostate Cancer Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Prostate Cancer Treatment
• Medical Treatment
• Surgery
• Other Therapy
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
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• Related prostate cancer articles:
  Prostate cancer - on WebMD

Prostate cancer - on MedicineNet

Prostate Cancer Overview

The prostate is a glandular organ present only in males. Only men develop prostate cancer.

The prostate is normally about 3 cm long (slightly more than 1 inch) and lies at the neck of the bladder and in front of the rectum.

• The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is a tubular structure that carries sperm and urine out of the penis.
  
  
• It produces a thin, milky fluid that is added to the sperm at the time of ejaculation.
  
  
• Older men often have an enlarged prostate, which is a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) that causes urinary symptoms.

Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation in which they grow and multiply without normal controls.

• As the cells multiply, they form a mass called a tumor.
  
  
• Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means that they invade neighboring tissues because of their uncontrolled growth.
  
  
• They may also travel to remote organs via the bloodstream.
  
  
• This process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis.
  
  
• Tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space and taking the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive and function.

Almost all prostate cancers arise from the secretory glandular cells in the prostate. Cancer arising from a glandular cell is known as adenocarcinoma. Therefore, almost all prostatic cancers are prostatic adenocarcinomas.

In the United States, cancer of the prostate is a common malignant cancer in men, second only to lung cancer. About 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and about 30,000 men die of the disease each year.

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Last Editorial Review: 10/16/2005