What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate, which is a gland that forms part of a man’s reproductive system. The prostate makes and stores semen. After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Hispanic men. It is also the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer, other than skin cancer in men.

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

The causes of prostate cancer are not well understood. Doctors cannot explain why one man gets prostate cancer and another does not. However, studies show that the following risk factors are associated with prostate cancer:

• Age. Prostate cancer is found mainly in men over the age of 55, and the average age of diagnosis is 70.
• Family history of prostate cancer. A man’s risk for developing prostate cancer is higher if his father or brother has had the disease.
• Race. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Hispanic men. It is much more common in African American men than white men. It is less common in Asian and American Indian men.
• What you eat. There is some evidence to suggest that a diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer and a diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk.

What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?

In its early stages, prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. However, prostate cancer can cause any of these problems:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.
• Inability to urinate.
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
• Painful or burning urination.
• Difficulty having an erection.
• Painful ejaculation.
• Blood in urine or semen.
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems. If a man has any of these symptoms, he should see a doctor.

How is prostate cancer detected?

The American Cancer Society recommends that health care providers advise men over 50 to have an annual blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and a Digital Rectal Exam. (The Digital Rectal Exam is not accurate by itself for the detection of prostate cancer.) If one of these tests is abnormal, your health care provider might suggest a biopsy and/or ultrasound of the prostate in order to get a correct diagnosis.

What is the treatment for prostate cancer?

The decision about prostate cancer treatment should be made jointly between the health care provider and the patient. Before making a decision, it is always important to get a second opinion by asking another physician to review the diagnosis and treatment options. Some of the factors that should be taken into account when making a decision about treatment include: the stage and grade of the disease, the individual’s age, what are the benefits of each treatment choice, and what are the side effects of each treatment choice. In addition, the decision should take into account the patient’s general health and estimated life expectancy.

Treatment options include:

Watchful waiting: This may be suggested for men who have prostate cancer that is found at an early stage and appears to be growing slowly. In this case, the risk of possible side effects from other treatments may outweigh the possible benefits. This is especially true for men in the older age groups.

Surgery: This is a common treatment for early stage prostate cancer. The doctor may remove all or part of the prostate. The type of surgery depends on the size and location of the tumor. Again age is an important determinant of eligibility.

Radiation therapy: This type of therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. In early stage prostate cancer, radiation can be used instead of surgery, or it may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the area.

Hormonal therapy: This type of therapy keeps cancer cells from getting the male hormones they need to grow. It is used to treat cancer that has spread. This type of therapy is also used to prevent the cancer from coming back after surgery or radiation treatment.

Additional Resources

National Alliance for Hispanic Health
Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline
1 (866) SU-FAMILIA or 1 (866) 783-2645
E -mail: SuFamilia@hispanichealth.org
http://www.hispanichealth.org

American Cancer Society
1-800-227-2345
http://www.cancer.org

CancerNet (A Service of the National Cancer Institute)
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Cancer Prevention and Control
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer

National Cancer Institute
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
http://www.cancer.gov

Revised 5/2004

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