What is Prostate Cancer?

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men other than skin cancer. While most people understand prostate cancer to be slow-growing and not dangerous, there are types of prostate cancer that can be dangerous. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. Furthermore, there is a troubling trend towards increases in advanced-stage diagnoses, meaning more people are getting diagnosed with more aggressive and incurable prostate cancer. Read on to find out more about prostate cancer.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer threatens the normal function of the prostate and if left undetected, may spread to other parts of the body.

This cancer originates within the prostate, a small gland located in the male reproductive system. It is responsible for producing seminal fluid along with other essential components in semen production. Small changes, or mutations, to the body’s natural cells, can cause them to become cancerous and rapidly multiply within the prostate. As cancer cells accumulate, they hijack nutrients from non-cancerous cells and damage glandular tissue.

In more advanced stages, the untreated buildup of cancer cells can lead to reproductive and urinary problems, and even spread to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to effectively treat.

Cells Gone Wild, with Dr. Hong

In another installment, we'll find out who is most at risk for prostate cancer.