Prostate cancer
how do you know you have prostate cancer and what causes it?
Answer:What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in a man's prostate gland. The prostate sits just below the bladder. It makes part of the fluid for semen. In young men, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. It usually grows larger as you grow older.
Prostate cancer is common and is an older man's disease. Most men who get it are older than 65. Most cases are curable because they are found before the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. 1
For information on cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body, see the topic Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic.
What causes prostate cancer?
Experts don't know what causes prostate cancer, but they believe that your age, family history, and race affect your chances of getting it. Eating a high-fat diet may also add to your chances of getting it.
What are the symptoms?
Prostate cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages. Most men don't know they have it until it is found during a regular medical exam. When there are symptoms, they mostly involve having problems with urination. Symptoms may include:
* Having difficulty starting your urine stream.
* Having a weaker-than-normal urine stream.
* Being unable to urinate at all.
* Having to urinate often.
* Feeling that your bladder is not emptying completely when you urinate.