| Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that begins | | | | 65 years of age have the highest occurrences of |
| to grow inside the prostate gland and may spread | | | | it, but males over 50 are also commonly affected. |
| out to other parts of the body. Some cancers of | | | | North America and northwestern Europe have |
| the prostate may spread very rapidly to other | | | | among the highest rates of prostate cancer. |
| parts of the body such as the lymph nodes or | | | | Researchers do not yet understand why males |
| the bones. Other cancers which start in the | | | | from sub-Saharan African descent have the |
| prostate may spread more slowly. | | | | highest rates of prostate cancer in the world. |
| Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. | | | | Curiously, this type of cancer is very rare in Asia |
| When cancer spreads it is called metastasis. You | | | | and Central and South America. |
| may have heard a doctor refer to it as | | | | In the U.S. men of African American descent |
| metastasized. This simply means that the cancer | | | | have the highest risk of developing cancer of the |
| has begun to spread out to other parts of the | | | | prostate. These guys also have the lowest |
| body. | | | | survival rates compared to Caucasian American |
| The most common type of cancer among | | | | men. African American males are two times more |
| American men, other than skin cancer, is cancer | | | | likely to die from cancer of the prostate than |
| of the prostate. And the number appears to be | | | | Caucasian American males. Researchers have |
| growing dramatically over the past decade. Most | | | | determined that this type of cancer is usually |
| researchers believe this is simply because of the | | | | diagnosed in the later stages in African American |
| increased use of a simple blood test which | | | | men. All cancers are much more difficult to |
| detects this type of cancer, and not necessarily | | | | successfully treat when in their later stages. |
| because the cancer is increasing among the | | | | As with most cancers, the risks of getting cancer |
| population. The prostate screening blood test is | | | | of the prostate increase tremendously with age. |
| called the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA test. | | | | Over 75% of prostate cancers are discovered in |
| Hundreds of thousands of families are affected | | | | men who are over 65. Guys who have a family |
| every year by cancer of the prostate. Each year | | | | history of prostate cancer are also at a higher |
| more than 180,000 new cases of prostate cancer | | | | risk. Researchers still have much to learn about |
| are diagnosed. Of those diagnosed over 30,000 | | | | the risk factors for this cancer. There is research |
| guys will die from this cancer. Cancer of the | | | | that suggests diets high in fat increase a man's |
| prostate can occur in men of any age, but is | | | | risk for prostate cancer. |
| most common in older men. Men who are over | | | | |