Prostate cancer's prevalence is significant

Sometimes called the male version of breast cancer, prostate cancer is a widespread disease, with estimates that about 200,000 American men will be diagnosed this year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 30,000 prostate cancer deaths occur annually in the United States .

Here are some of the most often-asked questions about prostate cancer, found on the CDC Web site:

How common is prostate cancer?
For the general population, a man in his lifetime has about a

• 16 percent chance (1 in 6) of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• 3 percent chance (1 in 33) of dying from prostate cancer.

The older you are, the greater the risk for getting prostate cancer.

Who is at increased risk for prostate cancer?
While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, some factors increase risk:

• Family history. Men with a father or brother who has had prostate cancer are at greater risk for developing it themselves.
• Race. Prostate cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than in others, but medical experts do not know why. Prostate cancer is more common in black men than in white men. It is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American men than in white men.

Is prostate cancer serious?
Some prostate cancers become a serious threat to health by growing quickly, spreading beyond the prostate gland to other parts of the body, and causing death. Yet other prostate cancers grow slowly and never become a serious threat to health or affect how long a man lives. Doctors can't always be sure what type of cancer is present in your particular case.

Among the leading causes of cancer death in men, prostate cancer is second, behind lung cancer. When compared with all causes of death in men over age 45, prostate cancer ranks fifth.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Many men with prostate cancer often have no symptoms. If symptoms appear, they can include

• Blood in the urine
• The need to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Weak or interrupted urine flow
• Pain or burning feeling while urinating
• The inability to urinate
• Constant pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. Keep in mind that these symptoms are also caused by other prostate problems that are not cancer, such as an infection or an enlarged prostate.

Prostate Cancer Screening

What does “screening” mean?
Screening means looking for signs of disease in people who have no symptoms. So screening for prostate cancer is looking for early-stage disease when treatment may be more effective. The main screening tools for prostate cancer are the digital rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The DRE and PSA test cannot tell if you have cancer; they can only suggest the need for further tests.

What is the DRE?
The DRE or digital (finger) rectal examination is a quick exam for checking the health of the prostate. For this test, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum. This allows the doctor to feel the back portion of the prostate for size and any irregular or abnormally firm areas.

What is the PSA test?
PSA stands for "prostate-specific antigen." PSA is a substance produced by cells from the prostate gland and released into the blood. The PSA test measures the PSA level in the blood. A small amount of blood is drawn from the arm. The doctor checks the blood to see if the PSA level is normal. The doctor may also use this test to check for any increase in your PSA level compared to your last PSA test.