Prostate cancer is more common than one might think.  It affects 1 in every 6 men.  Men are 35 % more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

An estimated 2 million men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States

Prostate cancer, MRI scans

As with most cancers, if prostate cancer is caught in the early stages, it can be dealt with a lot better.  Many men do no experience symptoms in the early stages, however, here are some things that some men do experience:

-  The need to urinate frequently, particularly during the night

-  Difficulty to begin urinating or holding urination back

-  Weak or interrupted flow of urine

-  Painful or burning urination

-  Difficulty with getting an erection

-  Painful ejaculation

-  Blood in the urine or the semen

-  Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips and/or upper thighs

Prostate is typically diagnosed during a routine physical examination.  Many men do not experience noticeable symptoms or they do not understand what the symptoms they are experiencing mean.  Many prostate cancer cases are not discovered until the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.

Prostate cancer is often diagnosed with the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or a digital rectal exam (DRE).

The symptoms in which the patient experiences will vary depending on how far the cancer has spread.  Urinary problems are typically experienced because of tumors pressing against the bladder.

In advanced prostate cancer, there are a few symptoms which may be experienced:

-  Bone pain that doesn’t go away

-  Bone fractures

-  Compression of the spine

Prostate cancer behaves differently for different people depending on the type of prostate cancer it is.  It is still unknown as to what exactly causes prostate cancer.  Research suggests that it may vary depending on a combination of factors, including heredity, ethnicity, hormones, diet and the environment.

There are many different factors, which put some people at a higher risk.  Some risk factors include age, race, family history, diet and testosterone levels.  A high-fat diet and obesity may play a bigger role in the development of prostate cancer than experts once thought.

Testosterone naturally stimulates the growth of the prostate gland, so men who use testosterone therapy are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.