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Prostate
Cancer
The
prostate gland is located in the pelvis, below the bladder,
above the urethral sphincter and the penis, and in front of the
rectum in men. Adenocarcinoma
of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on
the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to
the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate,
and later to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver,
lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated
successfully.
Incidence
Prostate
cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United
States. It was estimated that about 221,000 new cases were
diagnosed in 2003 and about 29000 men died the disease. Prostate
cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men,
exceeded only by lung cancer. Prostate cancer occurs in 1 out of
6 men. Reports of diagnosed cases have risen rapidly in recent
years and mortality rates are declining, due to increased
screening.
African
American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer, and
Asian and Native American men have the lowest incidence. Rates
for Asian and African men increase sharply when they emigrate to
the United States, suggesting environmental factors have a role
(e.g., high-fat diet, smoking). The risk for developing prostate
cancer rises significantly with age, and 60% of newly diagnosed
cases occur in men over the age of 70 years.
Risk
Factors
-
A
family history of prostate cancer
-
55
years old and older
-
Diet
high in saturated fat
-
Race
(African American)
-
Sedentary
lifestyle
-
Smoking
-
Exposure
to heavy metals (e.g., cadmium)
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