Prostate Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men other than skin cancer. It is estimated that 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in 2009, and that 27,360 men died of prostate cancer in the same time period. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, second only to lung cancer, and accounts for 10% of male cancer-related deaths. While some prostate cancers grow and spread rapidly, most grow slowly. In fact, some studies have shown that between 70% and 90% of men in their 80s who died of other causes had undiagnosed prostate cancer.

The prostate is a gland found only in men and it produces fluid that is used to protect and nourish sperm cells. This fluid is produced by gland cells, the cell type found in over 99% of prostate cancers. While cancer can arise in other cells within the prostate, such cancers are very rare.

A number of prostate cancer risk factors have been identified. Age, is the strongest risk factor, with almost 66% of cases diagnosed in men over the age of 65. Race also is a risk factor. Prostate cancer occurs more often and is diagnosed later in African-American men than in other racial groups and occurs less often in Asian-American and Latino men. A family history of prostate cancer may also increase a man’s risk for developing the disease, but specific genes that may increase risk have not yet been definitively identified.

Prostate cancer therapy is based on a number of factors, including the patient’s age, stage and grade of the cancer, curative potential and patient preferences with respect to treatment modalities and potential side effects.  Common approaches include “watchful waiting”, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and cryosurgery.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Prostate Cancer”

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