The prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system, sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Although not essential for life, the prostate serves important reproductive functions as it produces about one-third of the fluid in semen, according to PSA Rising. When the cells in the prostate fail to grow normally and die as they become old or damaged, they accumulate to form a tumor.
Risk Factors
Although doctors cannot pinpoint the exact cause of prostate tumors, several different risk factors increase the chance of developing a tumor. Patients older than the age of 65 have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. More than 65 percent of all prostate cancer cases occur in patients older than 65, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Although anyone can develop prostate cancer, African American men develop tumors more often than other races. Men with a family history of the disease also have an increased risk.
Symptoms
Prostate tumors often develop in the outer portion of the prostate known as the peripheral zone. Therefore many times, the tumor fails to produce any noticeable symptoms. As the tumor grows; however, it can press on the bladder or constrict the urethra producing symptoms. Common symptoms include the inability to pass urine, a weak urine stream, painful or burning sensation during urination, the urge to urinate frequently especially at night, difficulty obtaining an erection, painful ejaculation and pain or stiffness in the lower back or hips.
Diagnosing
Doctors perform two main tests to screen for prostate tumors. A digital rectal exam, called a DRE, involves the doctor feeling for the prostate through the rectal wall. Doctors can also perform a blood test called a prostate-specific antigen test. The prostate normally produces the protein prostate-specific antigen --- PSA that helps to free the sperm to swim to the uterus. The presence of a tumor often increases the level of PSA produced. Therefore an abnormal result on the blood test can prompt doctors to perform additional tests such as a biopsy to exam the cells and determine the presence of cancer cells.
Treatment
Doctors develop individual treatment plans based on the patient's age, the size and stage of the tumor and the results of the biopsy tests. Although several treatment options exist, some patients may benefit from active surveillance which involves putting off treatment but undergoing regular check-ups, as described by the National Cancer Institute. Other treatment options include radiation therapy --- the use of high energy waves to destroy tumor cells, chemotherapy that utilizes toxic drugs to kill tumor cells, surgery to remove all or part of the prostate or hormone therapy that keeps the prostate tumor cells from receiving the hormones needed to grow.
Outlook
Although prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men after skin cancer, with the advancements in detection and treatment the outlook has improved. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate, meaning the number of patients who survive five years following diagnosis, approaches 100 percent. The 10-year survival rate remains at nearly 91 percent.
