| Prostate Cancer - The facts
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer generally affects men over the age of 50, and is rarely found in men under that age. Around 30,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. It differs from most other cancers in the body, because small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may stay dormant for many years.
About one-third of men over the age of 50 have some cancer cells within their prostate and nearly all men over the age of 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow extremely slowly and so, particularly in elderly men, will never cause any problems.
In a small proportion of men, the prostate cancer can grow more quickly and in some cases may spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones.
The Facts:
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males and the second leading cause of male cancer deaths.
- It is most common among men between the ages of 60 and 80.
- Known risk factors for prostate cancer include age, race and family history.
- The early stages of prostate cancer generally show no symptoms.
- When the tumor becomes more advanced, patients may experience a weak urinary stream, the inability to urinate, interruption of urinary stream, frequent urination (especially at night), pain or burning during urination, and blood in the urine. It is important, however to remember that these symptoms are not specific and may be a result of benign prostatic enlargement.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH is not cancer. It is an enlargement of the prostate gland, which may impede the flow of urine. BPH does not lead to prostate cancer, nor does it increase your chances of developing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer survivor rests at
the top of Mount Kilimanjaro |
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The Facts:
- The majority of men with symptoms of BPH do not have prostate cancer.
- BPH is widespread, yet generally not life threatening and most commonly affects men 50 years of age and older. Approximately 2 million men in the UK currently suffer from moderate or severe BPH that requires treatment.
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