The Basics

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 .

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