Description - from the National Cancer Institute

The prostate is a gland in a man's reproductive system. It makes and stores seminal fluid, a milky fluid that nourishes sperm. This fluid is released to form part of semen. The prostate is about the size of a walnut. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the upper part of the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. If the prostate grows too large, the flow of urine can be slowed or stopped. To work properly, the prostate needs male hormones (androgens). Male hormones are responsible for male sex characteristics. The main male hormone is testosterone, which is made mainly by the testicles. Some male hormones are produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands.

The causes of prostate cancer are not well understood. Doctors cannot explain why one man gets prostate cancer and another does not.  Researchers are studying factors that may increase the risk of this disease. Studies have found that the following risk factors are associated with prostate cancer:

• Age. In the United States, prostate cancer is found mainly in men over age 55. The average age of patients at the time of diagnosis is 70.
• Family history of prostate cancer. A man's risk for developing prostate cancer is higher if his father or brother has had the disease.
• Race. This disease is much more common in African American men than in white men. It is less common in Asian and American Indian men.
• Diet and dietary factors. Some evidence suggests that a diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer and a diet high in fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk. Studies are in progress to learn whether men can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by taking certain dietary supplements.

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
• Inability to urinate;
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
• Painful or burning urination;
• Difficulty in having an erection;
• Painful ejaculation;
• Blood in urine or semen; or
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems, such as BPH or an infection. A man who has symptoms like these should see his doctor or a urologist (a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the genitourinary system).

A man who has any of the risk factors  may want to ask a doctor whether to begin screening for prostate cancer (even though he does not have any symptoms), what tests to have, and how often to have them. The doctor may suggest either of the tests described below. These tests are used to detect prostate abnormalities, but they cannot show whether abnormalities are cancer or another, less serious condition. The doctor will take the results into account in deciding whether to check the patient further for signs of cancer. The doctor can explain more about each test.

• Digital rectal exam -- the doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall to check for hard or lumpy areas.
• Blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) -- a lab measures the levels of PSA in a blood sample. The level of PSA may rise in men who have prostate cancer, BPH, or infection in the prostate.

Wegner Center Resources

Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancers - Book
Wegner Books WJ 752 W226 2001

Prostate Cancer: What Every Man - and His Family - Needs to Know - Book
Wegner Books WJ 752 B747 1999

Homespun Medical Tips - Requires RealAudio

Cancer Therapy
with Dr. David Elston, Oncologist from Sioux Falls, SD (January 2002)

Prostate Cancer
with Dr. R. C. Johnson, Urologist from Sioux Falls, SD (November 2002)

Prostate Cancer - General Information
with Dr. Paul Eckrich, Urologist from Aberdeen, SD (February 2001)

Web Resources

Learn About Prostate Cancer from the American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/lrn/lrn_O.asp
Learn about prostate cancer, risk factors, prevention, treatment, and more.  You can also read stories of hope from people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

National Institute of Health Senior Health
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/prostatecancer/toc.html
This site provides information in the following areas: prostate cancer defined; causes and risk factors; symptoms and diagnosis; treatments and research; and frequently asked questions.

Prostate Cancer Home Page from the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/prostate/
This site provides information for patients and health professional arranged in the following categories: treatment; prevention, genetics, causes; screening and testing; clinical trials; cancer literature; general cancer library; related information; and statistics.

Current Literature

Prostate Cancer from MEDLINEplus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prostatecancer.html
MEDLINEplus provides extensive information from the a variety of trusted sources, in English and in Spanish.

Medem Medical Library - Men's Health and Cancer
http://www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
Medem's award-winning Medical Library represents the full rant of patient education information from medical societies and other trusted sources, and is unsurpassed in quality, breadth and depth of health care information.