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PROSTATE CANCER
The prostate is part of a man's reproductive
system. It is located in front of the rectum and under
the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube through
which urine flows. A healthy prostate is about the size
of a walnut. For medically explicit pictures and more
infomation about the prostate from the National Cancer
Institue (NCI) please
click here
Prostate cancer is
the most common form of cancer, other than some kinds
of skin cancer, among men in the United States. In 2004,*
189,075 men in this country were diagnosed with prostate
cancer, and 29,002 men died of the disease. [1] In fact,
prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer
deaths among men in the United States, after lung cancer,
and the seventh leading cause of death overall for men
in this country.
- The incidence of prostate cancer
in the United States remained level from 1995-2004.
[2]
- The incidence of prostate cancer
among African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, American
Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men remained level
from 1995-2004. [2]
- Deaths from prostate cancer in
the United States decreased significantly by 4.0% per
year from 1994 to 2004. [2]
- More than 60% of all diagnosed
prostate cancers are found in men aged 65 years or
older. [1]
- African-American men die of prostate
cancer more often than do men in any other racial/ethnic
group. [1]
- Age. The older
a man is, the greater his risk for getting prostate
cancer. [3]
- Family history.
A man with a father, brother, or son who has had prostate
cancer is two to three times more likely to develop
the disease himself. [3]
- Race. Prostate
cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups
than in others, but medical experts do not know why.
Prostate cancer is more common among African American
men than among white men. It is less common among Hispanic,
Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men. [3]
Researchers are trying to determine
the causes of prostate cancer and whether it can be prevented.
They do not yet agree on the factors that can influence
a man's risk of developing the disease. Some of the factors
under study include [3, 4, 5]
- Herbal supplements.
- Lycopene (an antioxidant abundant
in red tomatoes and processed tomato products).
- Diets high in animal fat or low
in fruits and vegetables.
- Vitamin E and selenium.
- Men's hormone levels.
- Environmental agents (pesticide
residues on foods, and industrial and occupational
exposures).
- Physical inactivity.
- Overweight and obesity.
More details, including medically
graphic images, can be found at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
website. Please
click here
resources about prostate
cancer
MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus
brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.
MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical
encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news. Please make
sure you check the MedlinePlus online for prostate cancer with an extensive,
constantly updated resource list. Please
click here
with the medically explicit "Prostate
Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide". Please
click here.
• To download the CDC's "Prostate
Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide" (for
patients), 20 pages (pdf 349K) please
click here
• CDC's prostate
cancer "Informed
Decision Making"webpage please
click here
Please make sure
you visit the websites listed below. All
of these organizations are updating their websites regularly
and all the latest news or treatment options can be found
there.
has up-to-date information for patients and practitioners
about prostate cancer. To go to NCI main web page please
click here
is
the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization
dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem
by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing
suffering from cancer, through research, education,
advocacy, and service. To get to the ACS prostate
cancer information pages please
click here
Learn more about some of the materials
available on-line (more detailed information can be found
using the links on top of this page):
Printed
materials to download
This
National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication
No. 05-1576) has important information about prostate*
cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common type
of cancer among men in this country. Only skin cancer
is more common. Out of every three men who are diagnosed
with cancer each year, one is diagnosed with prostate
cancer. NCI 2006, 59 pages (pdf 639K). To download
the pdf file please
click here
ASCO Answers is a series of fact sheets produced by the American Society of Clinical
Oncology. 2008, 2 pages (pdf 336K).
The stage is a way of describing the cancer, such as where it is located, if
or where it has spread, and if it is affecting the functions of other organs
in the body. There are four stages for prostate cancer. Illustrations for these
stages are available at online, please click
here. To download the pdf please
click here
Acknowledgment: This
text is adapted from the CDC website.
*Incidence counts cover approximately
98% of the U.S. population. Death counts cover 100% of
the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence
and death counts.
References
1. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working
Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence
and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
National Cancer Institute; 2007.
2. Ries LAG, et al (eds). SEER Cancer
Statistics Review, 1975-2004, National Cancer Institute,
2007
3. Bostwick DG, Burke HB, Djakiew D,
Euling S, Ho S, Landolph J, et al. Human prostate cancer
risk factors. Cancer 2004;101(10 Suppl):2371-2490.
4. Vainio
H, Bianchini F, eds. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention,
Vol 6: Weight Control and Physical Activity. Lyon, France:
IARC Press; 2002.
5.
Curry S, Byers T, Hewitt M, eds. Fulfilling the Potential
of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Washington, DC:
Institute of Medicine; 2003.
