Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland located in front of the rectum. It produces seminal fluid and plays a role in urine control. Risk factors include increasing age, family history, and ethnicity. Early detection is critical as prostate cancer often shows no symptoms initially. Symptoms may include frequent urination, blood in urine or semen, and pain during urination or sex. Later signs involve bone pain, weight loss, fatigue, and incontinence. Regular screening before symptoms appear improves chances of cure.

1. Physiology

2. Prostate cancer begins in the prostate, a chestnut shaped
gland located in the base of a man's bladder just in front
of the rectum. The prostate forms part of the male
reproductive and urinary system and surrounds the base
or neck of the bladder. It has two lobes that surround the
urethra. The urethra carries urine from the bladder,
through the prostate and then out through the penis. The
size of the prostate will vary from one man to another and
will range from the size of a walnut to that of a small
apple. The size of a man's prostate usually increases with
age. The prostate itself is covered in a layer of connective
tissue called the prostatic capsule.

3. It is responsible for producing seminal fluid, the liquid that
a man's semen is carried in during orgasm. It also plays a
part in controlling the flow of urine. The lobes that
surround the urethra contain muscle fibres that contract
to slow or stop the flow of urine through the urethra.

4. Prostate Cancer

5. Prostate cancer will be found in almost 26,000 men this
year. Twenty six thousand more men will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer next year and another 26,000+ the
year after that. In fact, prostate cancer is the most
commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men.

6. While there is no known single cause of prostate cancer,
some indicators figure larger than others. What is known
is the risk of a man developing prostate cancer increases
significantly with age. Few men under the age of 50 have
been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most prostate
cancers are found in men around the age of 65 and higher.
Another factor is whether any blood relatives have
developed prostate cancer. Your chances of developing
this disease increase markedly if family members have
developed it.

7. In addition, men of African descent are 60% more likely to
develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men while Asian
men are least likely to develop it. The reasons for the
disparity are not known.

8. Early Signs and Detection

9. Early detection of the disease is critical. This disease does
not have many symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms
become more serious and numerous as the cancer
advances. Because other conditions can have similar
symptoms, having any of the symptoms listed below does
not necessarily mean you have cancer. What is important
is having yourself checked if they develop.

10. The first sign may be a change in bladder habits:

11. Do you find you need to urinate more frequently?

12. Do you have to get out of bed to urinate once, twice or
even three times a night?

13. Do you find your need to urinate is sometimes intense

14. Do you ever have difficulty in getting your urine flow
started?

15. Do you have trouble in stopping your urine flow?

16. Do you find you sometimes cannot urinate at all?

17. Is your urine flow weak or decreased?

18. Have you experienced a stoppage in urine flow?

19. Have you had the sensation that your bladder has not
completely emptied after urination?

20. Have you experienced pain or a burning sensation while
urinating?

21. Other signs may be blood in your urine or semen or pain
during orgasm.

22. If you have experienced one or more of these symptoms,
you should speak to your doctor and get checked.

23. Later Signs and Symptoms

24. Prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing cancer.
Symptoms usually begin to appear after the tumour
becomes large enough to affect the surrounding tissues
and organs. As the cancer progresses, other late signs and
symptoms may appear.

25. You may experience pain in your bones or joints,
especially in your back, hips, thighs and neck. You might
experience weight loss or feel a general fatigue. You may
also feel weakness or numbness in your legs or feet.
Another sign is a low red blood cell count or anemia. This
will be detected by blood tests carried out by your doctor.
And finally, you may experience a loss of bladder control
or bowel control.

26. Early detection and screening are crucial since the cure
rate is quite high when caught in the early stages. Once
the cancer metastasizes (spreads) outside of the prostate,
cure is very unlikely. It is best to get regular screenings
before you notice any prostate cancer symptoms, since
symptoms are rarely felt in the early stages of the disease.

27. http://www.prostatecancer-answers.com/