Certain Facts About Prostate Cancer

Most commonly found non-skin cancer among the humans is the prostate cancer. The probability of a man getting prostate cancer is 33% more than a female getting breast cancer. Prostate cancer commonly occurs in males above the age of 60. Only a few cases of prostate cancer are reported among younger males. This is one such disease which is related to age. Statistics shows that this disease is affecting more and more men like a plague. More than 200,000 cases are reported annually in United States itself. Many die of this disease without getting proper treatment at proper time. A new case of prostate cancer is being reported in every two-and-half minutes.

The prostate gland is found in males behind their pubic bone. It is a sex gland and it is of the size of a walnut. It is located at the lower part of the bladder. It encompasses the urinary tract coming out of the bladder. It produces a thick fluid to provide nourishment for the sperms and also helps with the ejaculation of the sperms. The growth pattern of this gland is different from that of others. At the time of birth, the prostate will only be the size of a peanut and this will become the size of a walnut at the age of 20. Then the growth stops until the age of 45 and after that it increases in size again. This variation in its growth pattern is one of the causes for the occurrence of cancer at an older age.

Prostate cancer in its initial stages is called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. Malignant tumor has the capacity to invade other cells and destroy them. A benign tumor does not spread out, but will cause damage to the tissue it has attacked. The abnormal cells in prostate will grow out of control to form small bumps and nodules on the surface of the prostate gland. If not treated properly at this stage the disease will escalate to become malignant and can be called Prostate cancer.

The occurrence of cancer can be recognized by conducting a PSA test and rectal examination. Though it is commonly occurring in males above the age of 65, it is recommended that such tests be taken from the age of 50 itself. Some of the common symptoms of this disease are not being able to urinate, difficulty in starting the urination, weak flow of urine, pain etc.

Click here to know more about prostate cancer survival rates [http://prostatecancersurvivalrate.org/].

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