What Every Man Needs To Know About Prostate Cancer

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth of cells of the prostate in which they divide and begin to spread. And in the same fashion that other cancers cause problems, it spreads beyond the confines of the gland itself.

What does the prostate do?

Well, we don't totally understand the prostate gland and its functions. There may have been functions that were present in the earliest times of man, but presently the prostate contributes with some fluids and nutrients to the semen and the sperm involvement with fertilization.

Where is the prostate?

Well, the prostate is roughly in normal fashion the size of a walnut and it sits just below the bladder.

What makes up the internal male reproductive system?

It begins with the prostate gland, the testicles and the organs involved with the testicles called the seminal vesicles and then the system of ducts that transmit and allow passage of the fluids involved with reproduction.

Are there different types of prostate cancer?

There are. Far and away, however, the most common type is a cell type called adnocarcenomia, which means it derives from glands. Some other cancers which we see sometimes in prostate cancer actually originate from other organs such as the bladder.

Who is most at risk for prostate cancer?

Well, actually men across the world are at risk for prostate cancer. There are regional and racial differences. In the United States, the entire population is at risk.

At what age does prostate cancer develop?

We begin to really look at this at age forty. Men who have risk factors, such as men who have a family history of prostate cancer or black men. We are more concerned at an earlier age, it begins at age forty and increases after that.

Can men have prostate cancer in more than one area?

Yes, really the entire gland is at risk for cancer. We make the diagnosis of prostate cancer by doing what's called a needle biopsy. We basically sample prostate tissue throughout the gland and look to see where this cancer resides. Sometimes however, even when a biopsy from a certain area shows no cancer, there still can be some cancer immediately adjacent to that area.