What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer (with the most common form called Adenocarcinoma) is the growth of malignant prostate glandular cells in the prostate gland. These cells multiply and have the potential to spread beyond the prostate gland. The prostate gland, which is about the size of a walnut, sits between a man's bladder and rectum in the pelvis. A key function of the prostate gland is to provide sperm with the necessary nutrients and help in their maturation. Prostatic fluids also help in protecting sperm when they are travelling in the female reproductive system. Click on Prostate Anatomy for more information about how the prostate works.
Prevalence
In the US more than 70% of all prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. The incidence of prostate cancer in African American men and Jamaican men of African descent is over twice the incidence identified in white men (70.4/100,000 versus 28.8/100,000). The disease is common in North America and northwestern Europe and is significantly less common in Asia and South America (13.0/100,000 and 23.5/100,000 versus 28.8/100,000). (American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2005, pp 18) Recent genetic studies suggest that a familial predisposition may also be responsible for 5-10% of prostate cancers. Data from the Cancer Prevention Study II and published in European Urology* suggests that dietary habits may also play a role in the development of the disease. Because of this linkage between nutrition, physical activity and cancer, the American Cancer Society in 2002 published updated guidelines for nutrition and physical activity.
* Eur Urol 1999; 35 (5-6):388-91 |
