Prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Pronunciation

Prostate cancer is pronounced as "PROS-tate KAN-ser".

Etymology

The term "prostate" comes from the Greek word "prostates", meaning "one standing in front", while "cancer" is derived from the Latin word "cancer" meaning "crab or creeping ulcer".

Definition

Prostate cancer is characterized by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate gland. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men. While some types grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

Symptoms

Prostate cancer that's more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:

• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in semen
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Bone pain
• Erectile dysfunction

Causes

It's not clear what causes prostate cancer. Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells' DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die.

Risk Factors

Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:

• Older age
• Being black
• Family history of prostate or breast cancer
• Obesity

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

• Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables
• Exercise most days of the week
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Talk to your doctor about increased risk of prostate cancer

Related Terms

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• Prostatitis
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Prostate cancer
• Wikipedia's article - Prostate cancer

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