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February 3, 2012
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Prostate Cancer

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Most men with prostate cancer have no symptoms. This is particularly true of early prostate cancer.

  • Currently, most prostate cancers are discovered when a prostate biopsy is performed after a raised serum prostate specific antigen (S. PSA) blood test is noted. This test is frequently performed as a part of a health screening program.


  • Sometimes, prostate cancers are discovered incidentally when a digital rectal exam is performed.


  • A digital rectal exam is part of a thorough regular health examination. Digital refers to finger.


  • During the digital rectal exam, the examiner inserts a gloved and lubricated finger in the rectum to feel the prostate for abnormalities. If there are some hard or irregular areas in the prostate, the physician may request for a prostate biopsy to confirm or rule out the presence of prostate cancer. (Details regarding S. PSA and prostate biopsy are available in subsequent sections.)

Learn more about prostate cancer symptoms »

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.


  • The prostate 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. According to American cancer society's most recent estimates, 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer would be diagnosed in 2009 and 27,360 would die from the disease.

The estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed with the disease is 17.6% for whites and 20.6% for African Americans. The lifetime risk of death from prostate cancer similarly is 2.8% and 4.7% respectively. Because of these numbers, prostate cancer is likely to impact the lives of a significant proportion of men that are alive today.

Over the years, however, the death rate from this disease has shown a steady decline, and currently more than 2 million men in the U.S. are still alive after being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

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Prostate Cancer - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

The symptoms of prostate cancer can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

Cancer

Get the latest treatment options.



Prostate Cancer

Prostate Infection Facts

  • Prostate infections comprise only about 5% to 10% of all men with prostatitis. This small percentage is comprised of acute and chronic prostatic infections.
  • E. coli
  • and other Gram-negative bacteria cause about 80% of acute and chronic prostatic infections.
  • Prostatic infection symptoms include groin pain, dysuria, pain with ejaculation, reduced urine output; and may include fever, malaise, and periodic recurrence of symptoms even after treatment.
  • Seek medical care if symptoms develop, emergency care if fever or inability to urinate occurs.
  • Diagnosis of prostate infections or prostatitis is made by identifying the agent (vast majority are bacteria) infecting the prostate.
  • Treatment of prostate infections or prostatitis is usually antibiotics; chronic infectious prostatitis may require long-term antibiotic treatment, and severe infections may require hospital...
  • Read the Prostate Infections article »


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