What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that originates in the prostate gland — a small walnut-sized structure that is part of the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers grow slow, but some are aggressive and spread to other areas of the body, including the bones and lymph nodes.

Prostate cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-associated mortality in men worldwide and is the second most common cause of cancer-associated mortality in the US.

Detection rates are more frequent in the US and Europe and are less frequent in South and East Asia. Pain and difficulty urinating are common symptoms. Yet, many men never have symptoms and die from other unrelated causes. Genetics and diet are associated with the development of prostate cancer.

Detection is increased with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, but the test does not decrease mortality. In 2012, The Unites States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against prostate cancer screening with the PSA test, as it leads to over-diagnosis and treatment; according to the USPSTF, the potential benefit does not outweigh the expected harms.

Data suggest that initiating sexual activity early on in life and having many lifetime sexual partners significantly increases the risk for prostate cancer. When researchers tested for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) within a decade or more prior to a prostate cancer diagnosis, a significant association was found between prostate cancer and HPV-16, HPV-18 and herpes simplex virus infection.

Disease severity is recommended to guide prostate cancer therapy. While low-risk tumors can be monitored by active surveillance, treatment includes surgery and radiation therapy or cryosurgery. Advanced disease therapy includes hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. Disease outcome is determined via age, underlying health and metastasis extent.

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