According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males and the second leading cause of male cancer deaths.
- It is most common among men between the ages of 60 and 80.
- Known risk factors for prostate cancer include age, race and family history.
- African-American men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer than Caucasian or Asian men in the U.S.
- The early stages of prostate cancer generally show no symptoms.
- When the tumor becomes more advanced, patients may experience:
Weak urinary stream
Inability to urinate
Interruption of urinary stream
Frequent urination (especially at night)
Pain or burning during urination and blood in the urine
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH is not cancer and the majority of men with symptoms of BPH do not have prostate cancer.
- BPH is widespread, yet generally not life threatening and most commonly affects men 50 years of age and older.
- Approximately 11 million men in the U.S. currently suffer from moderate to severe BPH that requires treatment.
- BPH symptoms include frequent urination, waking at night to urinate, sudden urgency to urinate, sense of being unable to empty the bladder, difficulty in starting to urinate, weak urinary stream and an intermittent stream.
Detection
Prostate disease is initially detected by a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a blood test to detect levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate. Elevated levels of PSA may indicate a prostate abnormality.
- If the DRE and PSA tests are abnormal, further studies may be conducted including ultrasound and a biopsy.
- The American Urological Association and the American Cancer Society recommend that every man 40 years of age and older have a digital rectal exam and a PSA test annually.
- Men with a family history of prostate cancer should have tests beginning at age 40.
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