Men and Key Points on Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer to men is much like breast and ovarian cancer to women. Although men could get breast cancer, it is rare with prostate cancer the dreaded cancer associated with many men. It starts in the gland in the man’s reproductive system and is located in front of the rectum, directly under the bladder with its approximate size, a walnut. The urine and semen from men runs through a urethra, which in turn goes through a man’s prostate.

Inside the prostate are thousands of other glands, which are producing fluids that are part of semen. This fluid is essential in nourishing and protecting sperm even though sperm is produced in testicles, the essential liquid comes from the prostate and prior to an orgasm, contractions forces the fluid from the prostate into the urethra, which leaves the body via the penis. The prostate is also essential for urine control. Inside the prostate is PSA (prostate-specific antigen) a protein that aid in keeping semen liquid and this protein often escapes into the bloodstream of a man.

In order to detect prostate cancer early or a problem with a prostate, these levels are tested and a high level of PSA is possibly a danger sign.

Key Points

• Over 3 million men in the USA alone have been diagnosed with prostate cancer with most still alive, indicating that it is not always deadly.
• It often does not have early symptoms
• In advanced cases, men have either weaker urine flow or urine more often.
• In most cases men above 65 are diagnosed and seldom in younger men.
• The American Cancer Society estimates that one out of seven men would probably be diagnosed with prostate cancer
• In the U.S. close to 300, 000 men are annually diagnosed with prostate cancer with under 30, 00 deaths due to prostate cancer.
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer men contract around the world after skin cancer