Fast facts on prostate cancer
/Did you know more men die from prostate cancer than women die from breast cancer? Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Australian men after lung cancer, and it kills nine men in Australia each day. One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by age 85.
While men under 50 are rarely diagnosed with prostate cancer, the risk of prostate cancer increases with age. The good news is that the survival rate for men with prostate cancer is high – 95 per cent!
The prostate sits just below the bladder. It's about the size of a golf ball and produces most of the fluid in semen. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and cause no harm.
In early (localised) prostate cancer, cancer cells have grown but have not spread beyond the prostate.
There are two stages of advanced prostate cancer:
where the cancer has spread to nearby glands or parts of the body (locally advanced prostate cancer)
where the cancer has spread to more distant part of the body (metastatic prostate cancer)
Causes of prostate cancer
Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:
age – risk of prostate cancer increases rapidly in men over 50
family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer
a diet high in fats and low in fresh vegetables and fruit
Prostate cancer symptoms
Symptoms can include:
frequent urination, particular at nighttime
pain with urination
a weak stream of urine
blood in urine or semen
back or pelvis pain
Screening
The issue of universal screening for prostate cancer is complicated because currently there is no single test that has sufficient accuracy to screen all men for early signs of prostate cancer. There are both risks and benefits to undergoing a test designed to find early signs on prostate cancer. This is frustrating because early detection and treatment can improve prostate cancer survival. To learn more about the issues surrounding prostate screening click here.
Speak to your doctor if you have concerns about prostate cancer.
