Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer occurs when your body can’t control the growth of cells in a male-only gland known as the prostate gland. It rarely causes symptoms early on but may lead to slow, weak, or frequent urination at night or blood in the semen or urine. If prostate cancer grows slowly in older males, monitoring symptoms and testing hormone levels might be enough to control growth. Surgery to remove part or all of the prostate or different therapies to kill cancer cells can treat faster-growing prostate cancer.

Common Questions & Answers

What is the life expectancy of someone with prostate cancer?

More than 99 percent of people with prostate cancer that doesn’t spread from the original site of growth live for five years or longer compared to those who don’t have cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Warning signs of early prostate cancer include needing to urinate often (especially at night), weak, painful, or burning pee, and blood in the pee or semen. However, prostate cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms. Regular testing can rule it out.

This depends on the stage and type of cancer. Delaying treatment for lower-stage prostate cancer that has not spread may not increase the risk of death. Cancer that spreads from the prostate has risks affecting other organs.

Stages track prostate cancer’s spread and severity. Stage 1 and 2 cancers have stayed in the prostate, stage 3 means cancer has reached nearby structures, and stage 4 has spread to other organs near the prostate.

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Resources
  1. Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) — Patient Version. National Cancer Institute. December 20, 2024.

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