What Is Prostate Cancer?

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Genitourinary Oncology Program
Columbia University Medical Center
 

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is by far the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in men in the United States.

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cells in the prostate gland begin to grow and reproduce at an abnormal rate. If untreated, the defective cells may eventually spread to other areas of the body. Although all men are at risk for prostate cancer, it's typically a disease of aging and approximately one in six men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime, with African-American men having a higher incidence rate than Caucasian men.

 

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However, a variety of methods are available to treat prostate cancer and limit the side effects associated with treatment, including erectile dysfunction (ED) and impotence. Like most cancers, early detection and treatment can help control the disease and/or eliminate it from your body.

This content was last modified on August 07, 2007 .
Latest Prostate Cancer News
Red, processed meats linked to prostate cancer

November 5, 2009 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those who limit such foods, a large study of U.S. men suggests.

Low cholesterol may be sign of undiagnosed cancer

November 3, 2009 — CHICAGO (Reuters) - Low total cholesterol may be a sign of cancer rather than a cause, as some researchers have suggested, and men who have low cholesterol actually have a lower risk of developing high-risk prostate cancer, two teams reported on Tuesday.

Pros and cons with "easier" prostate cancer surgery

October 13, 2009 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - More and more men with prostate cancer who opt to have the organ surgically removed are choosing less invasive keyhole "prostatectomy" over the more traditional open or "radical" prostatectomy.

Select news items provided by Reuters Health