Prostate cancer 1
Your body is made up of millions of cells that continuously renew themselves. When this process gets out of control and invades healthy tissue it is called cancer. Cancers are different from benign growths which are more common and do not invade healthy tissue.
Sometimes cells can break away from the gland and settle in other parts of the body, often in the bone, and cause further damage. When this happens the cancers that have spread are called metastases or secondaries.
Your prostate
The prostate is a gland found only in men, just below the bladder. Urine flows through a tube from the bladder and out through the penis. This tube, the urethra, passes through the prostate before reaching the penis. Some men find they have problems with urinating when they have an enlarged prostate. Fluid produced by the prostate forms part of semen.
Problems with the prostate
As men age many find the prostate glands increases in size and many develop a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is not cancer. Those who have difficulty in urinating may have drug therapy or an operation known as a TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) to relieve this. Some men with prostate cancer may be offered a TURP to relieve these symptoms, however the operation will not cure your cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, and four out of every ten men who are 70 or older will have prostate cancer. However most of them will live their whole lives without this being discovered or it affecting them. The risk of getting prostate cancer gets hgher as men get older.
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown. It is more common in some ethnic groups than in others, and diet may be involved. There is also some evidence for a family link; you may have a greater chance of developing it if you have a near relation with the cancer.
The more aggressive the cancer is, the more of a threat it poses to your life expectancy. The aggressiveness of the cancer is given a Grade (G1,2, or 3) or Gleason (GL1-10) score, the higher of either of these shows a more aggressive cancer.
Symptoms
It is important to realise that any of these symptoms can be caused by problems which are nothing to do with prostate cancer.
- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night
- Rushing to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to urinate
- Straining to pass urine
- Taking a long time to urinate
- Having a weak flow
- Getting the feeling that your baldder has not emptied properly when you have finished urinating
- Dribbling after urination is completed
- Pain or discomfort on passing urine
In additon other symptoms can be
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the pelvis hips or thighs
- Impotence
- Blood in the urine (rare)
If you are concerned about any symptoms you may have, the first step is to visit your GP who will investigate and arrange referral to a specialist if required.
Please go on to Prostate cancer 2 for more information
See also Prostate Cancer Diet Guidelines
Relevant links
Cancer BACUP 0808 800 1234
MacMillan CancerLine 0808 808 2020
Cancer Research UK 0800 226 237
Prostate Cancer Support Organisation 0845 650 2555
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