Other good news is that incidence of prostate cancer in the U.S. and deaths by the disease have been trending downward in the last few years due to early detection and treatment.
What Does a Prostate Do?
The prostate produces a fluid that makes up about 30 percent of semen and prepares the sperm for their long journey to fertilize an egg in a woman's uterus. Prostatic fluid lubricates the urethra before ejaculation starting when the man becomes excited or erect.
Prostatic fluid bathes the sperm when it is mixed with them during ejaculation. The fluid provides the sperm cells with nourishment and activates them to "swim". Prostatic fluid has a high pH (alkaline) which makes the receiving vagina less acidic. These prostatic responsibilities mean men without prostates are generally sterile.
Symptoms
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Often it is diagnosed during the workup for an elevated PSA noticed during a routine checkup. Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does cause symptoms, often similar to those of diseases such as benign prostatic hypertrophy. These include frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, and painful urination. Prostate cancer may also cause problems with sexual function, such as difficulty achieving erection or painful ejaculation.
Advanced prostate cancer may cause additional symptoms as the disease spreads to other parts of the body. The most common symptom is bone pain, often in the vertebrae (bones of the spine), pelvis or ribs, from cancer which has spread to these bones. Prostate cancer in the spine can also compress the spinal cord, causing leg weakness and urinary and fecal incontinence.
Prevention
Several medications and vitamins may also help prevent prostate cancer. Two dietary supplements, vitamin E and selenium, may help prevent prostate cancer when taken daily.
Diagnosis
When a man has symptoms of prostate cancer, or a screening test indicates an increased risk for cancer, more invasive evaluation is offered.
The only test which can fully confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer is a biopsy, the removal of small pieces of the prostate for microscopic examination. However, prior to a biopsy, several other tools may be used to gather more information about the prostate and the urinary tract.