Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer that begins in the prostate, a gland below a man’s bladder. It is common in older men. Prostate cancer can be detected early and treatments have high success rates.

Prostate Cancer Overview

Reviewed: May 22, 2014

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man's prostate. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.


A man has a 1 in 7 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men, and approximately 60% of cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older. It is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66 years old.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, following only skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 38 will die of prostate cancer.


Prostate cancer that is detected early has a better chance of successful treatment. Treatments include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms



  • trouble urinating
  • decreased force in the stream of urine
  • blood in the semen
  • discomfort in the pelvic area
  • bone pain in the hips, back (spine), or chest (ribs)
  • weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
  • loss of bladder or bowel control
  • erectile dysfunction

Prostate Cancer Causes

The cause of prostate cancer is not entirely clear. Cancer occurs when some cells in the prostate begin growing abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Some of these cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Inherited genetic factors seems to cause about 5% to 10% of prostate cancers.

Factors that are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer include:

  • older age
  • being African-American
  • family history of prostate or breast cancer
  • obesity

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Some medical organizations recommend that men consider prostate cancer screening in their 50s, or sooner if men who have risk factors for prostate cancer. Other organizations advise against screening. Discuss your particular situation and the benefits and risks of screening with your doctor. Together, you can decide whether prostate cancer screening is right for you.

Prostate screening tests might include:



If an abnormality is detected on a DRE or PSA test, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound or a biopsy to analyze the prostate.

Once a prostate cancer diagnosis has been made, your doctor works to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. If your doctor suspects your cancer may have spread beyond your prostate, he or she may recommend imaging tests such as bone scan, ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scan.


  • Stage I. The cancer is confined to a small area of the prostate.
  • Stage II. The cancer may be small but aggressive or larger and may have grown to involve both sides of the prostate gland.

Living With Prostate Cancer

If you have or have had prostate cancer, you can take steps to manage the stress that accompanies the diagnosis:

  • Learn about prostate cancer so you can make informed decisions about your care.
  • Accept help and support from family and friends.
  • Talk with other cancer survivors or attend support groups.

Prostate Cancer Treatments

The goal of prostate cancer treatment is to eliminate the cancer. Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage and location of the cancer, as well as your overall health.

For men diagnosed with very early-stage prostate cancer, treatment may not be necessary right away. Some men may never need treatment. Instead, doctors sometimes recommend active surveillance, which includes regular follow-up blood tests, rectal exams, and, possibly, biopsies to monitor progression of your cancer. If tests show your cancer is progressing, you may opt for a prostate cancer treatment such as surgery or radiation.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. Prostate cancer radiation therapy can be delivered from outside of your body (external beam radiation) or placed inside your body (brachytherapy).


  • surgery to remove the testicles (orchiectomy). Removing your testicles reduces testosterone levels in your body.

Surgery. Surgery for prostate cancer involves removing the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy), some surrounding tissue and a few lymph nodes. A radical prostatectomy procedure can be performed using a robot, an abdominal incision, a perineal incision, or laparoscopy.


Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein in your arm or in pill form.

Chemotherapy may be a treatment option for men with prostate cancer that has spread to distant areas of their bodies. Chemotherapy may also be an option for cancers that do not respond to hormone therapy.

For prostate cancer, chemotherapy drugs are typically used one at a time. Some of the common drugs used to treat prostate cancer include:

Biological therapy. Biological therapy (vaccine therapy or immunotherapy) uses your body's immune system to fight cancer cells. One type of biological therapy called sipuleucel-T (Provenge) has been developed to treat advanced, recurrent prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Prognosis