Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in North America, Europe, and other western countries.
Prostate cancer strikes one in six men in the U.S. Right now there are more than 215,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States, 20,000 in Canada, 30,000 cases in Britain, and 12,000 in Australia.
Prostate cancer affects the prostate which a small walnut-shaped gland located under the bladder and which wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and seminal fluid out of the body.
The main function of the prostate gland is to assist male fertility. Typically, this gland remains trouble-free until late in life and if problems do occur, and if they are treated promptly, there is a good chance of successful treatment.
Prostate and bladder, sagittal section
Some of the symptoms of this disease can include:
-- difficulty in passing urine
-- inability to urinate
-- need to urinate often, especially at night
-- pain during urination
-- weak or interrupted flow of urine
-- blood in the urine or semen
-- pain in lower back, hips or upper thighs
If prostate cancer is caught in the earliest stages, most sufferers will not experience any of the above symptoms.
But if a man notices some of the above symptoms, it is advisable to have a thorough checkup as soon as possible to see if the problem is prostate cancer or some other disorder.
There are various types of treatment available, depending on how far the cancer has advanced. Where the tumor is still confined to the prostate gland itself, a surgeon may operate to remove the prostate. Where the tumor has spread outside the prostate gland, treatment in the form of hormone drugs may be given.
If the patient is elderly with limited life expectancy, no treatment may be recommended. This is because the patient may well die of some other unrelated cause without experiencing any symptoms from the prostate cancer.
Recommended Reading
Dr Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, Second Edition
This lifesaving guide offers a message of hope to every man facing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is a different disease in every man--which means that the right treatment varies for each man. Giving you a second opinion from the world's top experts in surgery, pathology, urology, and radiation and medical oncology, this book helps you determine the best plan for you.
Click here for more information
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