Prostate cancer affects one in six men in the United States, according to National® Cancer Institute statistics. Although the number is significant, most men diagnosed with the disease do not die from it.

"Most prostate cancers grow slowly, never becoming a serious health threat or affecting how long a man lives," says Paul D. Thompson, MD, FACS, urologist on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center. "Other prostate cancers can become life-threatening by growing quickly and spreading beyond the prostate gland to other parts of the body."

Although the majority of men with prostate cancer have no symptoms, some can include:

Blood in the urine
A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
Weak or interrupted urine flow
Pain or burning sensation while urinating
Inability to urinate
Constant pain in the lower back, pelvis or upper thighs

Prostate cancer screening enables physicians to diagnose the disease early when treatment is most effective. The main screening tools for prostate cancer are digital rectal examinations and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. Neither test can definitely identify cancer; they can only suggest the need for further tests. Men at greatest risk for prostate cancer include those:

Between ages 50 and 75
Between ages 35 and 50 with a family history of prostate cancer
African American or Hispanic descent and age 35 or older

From Weekly Health Page: Sept. 10, 2006