Usually occurring in older men, prostate cancer forms in the tissues of the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in this country, with only skin cancer being more common. The main risk factor for prostate cancer is age.  In the United States most men with prostate cancer are older than 65.

Along with age, other risk factors include family history, race (prostate cancer is more common in African American men and less common in Asian and American Indian men), certain prostate changes and diet.

Prostate cancer screening
Screening can help doctors check for prostate cancer before any symptoms are present. Current screenings include a digital rectal exam in which the prostate is checked manually for hard or lumpy areas; and a PSA exam (prostate-specific antigen) that checks for problems through a blood test.

Worth Noting:  The digital rectal exam and PSA test can detect a problem in the prostate. They cannot show whether the problem is cancer or a less serious condition.

Prostate cancer symptoms
Common symptoms include urinary problems – not being able to urinate, having a hard time starting or stopping, frequent urination, a flow that starts and stops, pain or burning during urination; difficulty in having and maintaining an erection; blood in the urine or semen; frequent pain in the lower back, hips or upper thighs.

In many cases, these symptoms are not due to cancer but to an infection or non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.  However, any man with these symptoms should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Prostate cancer treatment
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the cancer (the degree to which it has spread) the grade of the tumor, the symptoms, age and general health.  Included are the surgical removal of the prostate, radiation treatment which directs cancer killing radiation from inside or outside the body, hormone therapy designed to block hormones that enhance the growth of the cancer cells and watchful waiting, in which a man’s health is closely monitored and treated only if symptoms get worse.

Worth Noting: Riverside offers da Vinci® robot-assisted prostate surgery.  This advanced technology significantly reduces blood loss, pain, recovery time and other concerns associated with prostate surgery.  In addition, the highly precise procedure offers greater hope for retaining urinary continence and sexual function.

Three facts about prostate cancer:

1. The cure rate for prostate cancer is very high when it’s diagnosed in the earlier stages.

2. Men with prostate cancer may benefit from clinical trials – research studies that look at new treatment methods. companies will cover the cost if requested by the patient or physicians.

3. A non-smoking man is more likely to develop prostate cancer than he is to develop colon, bladder, melanoma, lymphoma and kidney cancers combined.

For more information about prostate cancer, visit riversideonline.com’s MayoClinic.com Health Library.