INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the fluid that feeds and transports sperm. It is also the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States and is the 3rd most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages.
Prostate cancer occurs more often in older males and is rarely found in men younger than 40. It occurs in 1 out of every 6 men and when confined to the gland is often treated successfully.
RISK: Every man is at risk for developing prostate cancer. Along with being male, there are other risk factors, such as age, race, and family history that may contribute to the overall risk. Men at greater risk include African-America men over 60,farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. The risk for developing it rises significantly with age, and 60 percent of recently diagnosed cases occur in men over the age of 70.
The greatest risk factor is age. This risk increases significantly after the age of 50 in white males who have no known family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in african american men as well as those who have a close relative with the disease. Having a brother with prostate cancer seems to increase your risk more than an affected father does. That risk becomes higher when there are multiple family members affected.
SYMPTOMS: May include Painful urinatian, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling, Low back pain, Pain while ejaculating. A large number of men experience no symptoms; the first indicator that they may have prostate cancer is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Symptoms are more likely to appear as the cancer grows.
TREATMENT: May include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or control of hormones that affect the cancer. Treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. The appropriate treatment is often controversial.
Surgery is usually only recommended after a thorough evaluation and discussion of all possible treatment options. Chemotherapy is often used to treat the ones that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Gland Removal is often recommended for treatment of stages A and B.
CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in males of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over the age of 75. Often there are no signs of the disease in its early stages. If it has spread, it may be treated with drugs to decrease testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, or drugs.
About the Author:
About the author: Richard H. Ealom is an expert ezinearticles.com writer with more than 50 articles on diseases,causes,cures. To find out more about Cancer visit "Cancer Breakthrough USA!" You have the right to reprint this article provided this box is left unchanged
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