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About Prostate Cancer
Information and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about prostate cancer - and where to go on our website to find more detailed information.
On This Page:
What is the Prostate? |
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The prostate is a gland involved in the male reproductive system. It is surrounded by other glands, nerves and organs involved in sexual function. It is wrapped around the urethra and helps control the flow of urine. While you can live without a prostate, its location makes prostate cancer difficult to treat.
What is Cancer? |
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Sometimes cells keep growing beyond their natural lifespan, and can cause a group of cells to swell up into a tumor. Tumors can be harmless benign, or harmful to the cells around it - malignant (cancer). Cancer cells can remain in the prostate - local, its immediate surroundings - regional, or cells can break free, get into the blood or lymph system and cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body - metastatic.
What is Prostate Cancer? |
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Prostate cancer is a common, but usually slow growing cancer, compared to other types of cancer. It's growth is fed by, and generally depends on, male hormones. In most cases, prostate cancer is an adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the epithelial cells which compose the inner lining of glands.
Where Can I Learn More About Prostate Cancer? |
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Our website is full of information about prostate cancer, detection and prevention, treatment and research, funding and policy, and more. For additional information, including printable hand-outs, books, pamphlets, and links to other organizations, internet mailing lists, glossaries and more, visit our Education, Resources and Links page.
Who is at Risk for Prostate Cancer? |
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For the general population, a man has about a 17% chance of getting prostate cancer in his lifetime and a 3% chance of dying from it. Some men have a much higher risk, such as men with a father, brother or other relative who has had prostate cancer, African American men, and Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
What are the Rates of Prostate Cancer in the U.S.? |
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Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in American men. It is the second greatest cause of cancer related death for men, second only to lung cancer. In 2007, approximately 218,890 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and approximately 27,050 will die as a result of the disease - down 1% from 2006.
How Dangerous is it? |
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Almost 100% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive in 5 years (not including those who died from other causes.) Over 90% of prostate cancer cases are found while the cancer is still either local or regional, and nearly 100% of these men are still alive 5 years after being diagnosed. In cases where the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, 34% survive 5 years.
How Much Funding is Going Toward Prostate Cancer Research? |
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Prostate cancer accounts for more than 16.7% of new cancer cases in the United States, yet only about 7% of federal cancer research dollars have been devoted to beat the disease. Last year, $484.9 million was put toward prostate cancer research, up from $69.2 million in 1994, thanks to aggressive efforts by NPCC.
What Can I Do to Help Increase Research Funding? |
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You can contact your elected officials, by calling, emailing, or writing letters. You can visit them in your District or State when they are home. You can come to Washington, DC, get trained as an advocate in our Spring Training event, and tell them why you think prostate cancer funding should be a priority. You can build awareness and grassroots pressure at home with our guidance and support.
When Should I Get Screened? |
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Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer; a blood test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test and a physical exam, the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). They are usually administered by your regular doctor. Men should start yearly screening at age 50. Men with one or more high risk factors should start yearly testing at 45 or earlier. Some men choose to take a PSA test at 40, to establish a baseline level for future comparison. Our mobile screening program, the Drive Against Prostate Cancer, provides free screenings across America, and may be coming to your town.
Are There Any Symptoms? |
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There are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages, which is why screening is so critical. In more advanced stages, symptoms may include difficult or frequent urination, blood in the urine or bone pain. In order to find prostate cancer in its most treatable form, it must be caught before symptoms appear.
Is it Preventable? |
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Changing your diet can lower your risk. A low fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is a good start. Studies show a strong connection between consumption of saturated fat and red meat, and increased rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and mortality. Large studies are underway to confirm evidence that Soy, Vitamin E, tomatoes and other foods may lower your risk.
How is Prostate Cancer Treated? |
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Many options are available, and the right treatment for each man depends very much on their individual case. Some choose to wait and watch for signs of disease progression. Some choose surgery, radiation, hormone therapy or a combination of methods. If these treatments fail, some patients enroll in clinical trials to try therapies that are promising but still in the research phase.
What are the Side Effects? |
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Depending on the treatment, side effects can range from short to long term incontinence, rectal problems or impotence, or include other effects like pain and depression. Minimizing side effects and maintaining a high quality of life are serious factors to consider in the decision making process.
How Do I Decide on a Treatment? |
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Working with your doctor and other specialists you can learn about your unique case, and discuss how the various treatment options will work best for you. Educate yourself, get multiple opinions from doctors with different specialties, and learn from people who have gone through the experience, and you will be better prepared to make tough choices.
You can also use our Treatment Option Decision Tool in the Making Decisions section, which allows you to securely enter your medical information and get customized treatment information.
Where Can I Find a Support Group? |
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There are many support groups for prostate cancer, and probably at least one in or near your area. You can check for groups in your state and get their contact information by using our Support Group Locator Map in the Living With Prostate Cancer section.
What’s New in Prostate Cancer Research? |
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To get informed and stay up-to-date with the news about prostate cancer and the latest in research, sign up for AWARE, our weekly newsletter. Our Prostate Cancer Research and Clinical Trials section, also gives an overview of the latest lines of research for cancer in general and prostate cancer.
Where Can I Get Information About Clinical Trials? |
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To get information about human clinical trials for prostate cancer, including clear descriptions of the research project, who is eligible, contact information and profiles of the clinics and institutions that do clinical research, visit our Clinical Trials Resource Center. You can also sign up to be emailed when a new prostate cancer clinical trial opens in your area.
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