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Prostate Cancer

What is cancer of the prostate?
Cancer of the prostate, a common form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the prostate. The prostate is one of the male sex glands and is located just below the bladder (the organ that collects and empties urine) and in front of the rectum (the lower part of the intestine). The prostate is about the size of a walnut. It surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The prostate makes fluid that becomes part of the semen, the white fluid that contains sperm.

Cancer of the prostate is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get bigger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause difficulty in urination or can interfere with sexual functions. The condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), and although it is not cancer, surgery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of BPH or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms for prostate cancer.

A doctor should be seen if any of the following symptoms appear: weak or interrupted flow of urine, urinating often (especially at night), difficulty urinating, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine, or nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis. Often there are no symptoms of early cancer of the prostate. When examining a patient, a doctor will insert a gloved finger into the rectum (a rectal examination) to feel for lumps in the prostate. A special test called an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to make a picture of the bladder, may also be done.

If the doctor feels anything that is not normal, he or she may need to take cells from the prostate and look at them under a microscope. The doctor will usually do this by putting a needle into the prostate to remove some cells. To get to the prostate, the doctor may put the needle through the rectum or through the space between the scrotum and the anus (the perineum). This is called a fine needle aspiration or a needle biopsy.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the prostate or has spread to other places in the body) and the patient's general health.